
Class $>T *, 

Book 

GopigMls 10 - 



C.OPXRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



SHEEP DISEASES 




BLACK-FACED HIGHLAND SHEEP IN THEIR NATIVE HOME 

Courtesy Agricultural Digest. 



VETERINARY MEDICINE SERIES 

No. 12 
Edited by D. M. CAMPBELL 



SHEEP DISEASES 



BY 

E. T. BAKER, D.V. M. 



ILLUSTRATED 



Chicago 

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 

1916 



3^ 



Copyright, 1916 

BY 

D. M. Campbell 




^ 



OCT -5 1916 



©CIA437982 



PEEFACE. 

As economical producers of those prime neces- 
sities of civilized man, good food and good cloth- 
ing, sheep are destined to increase in numbers, 
and sheep raising to speedily attain and maintain 
a more important place in the animal industry of 
this country. Moreover, it being also a fact that 
of all domesticated animals sheep possess the 
least natural resistance to disease and particularly 
to parasitism, one may readily appreciate the 
importance of skilled veterinary service for the 
welfare of the sheep industry, now after more than 
a century's existence in this country, only at the 
threshold of its development. 

It is unnecessary to emphasize the need for 
works dealing authoritatively with disease as it 
occurs in sheep and its treatment. That need is 
acutely realized by most veterinary practitioners. 
It is hoped that this treatise will to a degree 
meet the requirements of the searcher for practi- 
cal information on this subject. 

The major portion of the contents of this vol- 
ume has been gathered from the field of experi- 
ence and is presented solely from the viewpoint 
of the practitioner. To conserve the health and 
prevent disease among our flocks is a gigantic 
task, and one worthy of the highest attainments. 
To this task, in his limited field, have been de- 
voted the best efforts of the writer, throughout 
the greater part of his veterinary experience. 



Moscow, Idaho. 
September, 1916. 



E. T. Baker. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

List of Illustrations 13 

SECTION I. 

History of the Breeds 15 

Breeds — = 1. The Fine ^Yools — Merino, Rambouillet. 
2. The Medium ^Yools — Shropshire, Southdown, Oxford, 
Hampshire, Cheviot, Dorset, Suffolk. 3. The Long 
^Yools — Leicester, Cotswold, Lincoln. 4. Lesser Known 
Breeds — Romney or Kent, Corriedale, Karakul, Black- 
faced Highland, Tunis, Persian. 5. Cross-bred Sheep. 

SECTION II. 

Anatomy 53 

Skeleton ; Muscular System ; Digestive System ; Respira- 
tory System ; Urinary Organs ; Male Genital Organs ; 
Female Genital Organs; Circulatory System; Nervous 
System ; Organs of Special Sense. 

SECTION III. 

Hygiene 03 

General Care; Handling; Feeding; Shepherd's Calendar; 
Care of the Ewe ; Care of the Lamb ; Care of the Buck. 

SECTION IV. 

Medicines and Their Administration 75 

General Consideration; Administering Medicines; Dosage; 
Table of Drugs ; Emergency Medicine Case ; Disinfect- 
ants ; Post Mortem Examinations. 

SECTION V. 

Acute Infectious Diseases 84 

1. Anthrax. 2. Malignant Edema. 3. Blackleg. 
4. Bi-adsot. 5. Hemorrhagic Septicemia. 6. Rinder- 
pest. 7. Sheep Pox. 8. Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
9. Tetanus. 10. Rabies. 11. Tuberculosis. 12. Case- 
ous Lymph-adenitis. 13. Actinomycosis. 14. Glanders. 
15. Contagious Abortion. 10. Piroplasmosis. 17. Foot 
Rot. 18. Septicemia. 



10 CONTENTS 

SECTION VI. page 

Diseases of the Blood 99 

1. Anemia. 2. Red Water. 3. Pining. 

SECTION VII. 

Diseases of Metabolism 102 

1. Obesity. 2. Rachitis. 3. "Wool Eating. 4. Dia- 
betes. 

SECTION VIII. 

Diseases of the Urinary Organs 104 

1. Hematuria. 2. Uremia. 3. Nephritis. 4. Rare 
and Unimportant Diseases. 

SECTION IN. 

Diseases of the Circulatory Organs 106 

1. Pericarditis. 2. Dropsy of the Pericardium. 
3. Hypertrophy of the Heart. 4. Valvular Diseases. 

SECTION N. 

Diseases of the Respiratory Organs 108 

1. Epistaxis. 2. Nasal Catarrh. 3. Non-Parasitic 
Bronchitis. 4. Japp Disease. 5. P n e u m o n i a . 
G. Pleurisy. 

SECTION NI. 

Diseases of the Digestive System Ill 

1. Stomatitis. 2. Choke. 3. Bloat. 4. Impaction 
of the Rumen. 5. Grass Staggers. 6. Constipation. 
7. Colic. 8. Diarrhea. 9. Enteritis. 10. Piles. 

SECTION NIL 

Diseases of the Liver 120 

1. Icterus. 2. Hepatitis. 3. Lupinosis. 

SECTION Nil I. 

Diseases of the Peritoneum 121 

1. Ascites. 2. Peritonitis. 

SECTION XIV. 

Diseases of the Brain and Spinal Cord 124 

1. Encephalitis. 2. Apoplexy. 3. Paralysis. 4. Gid. 

SECTION XV. 

Diseases of the Organs of Locomotion 12G 

1. Rheumatism. 



CONTENTS 11 

SECTION XVI. page 

Xon-Parasitic Diseases of the Skin 127 

1. Itch. 2. Alopecia. 3. Eczema. 4. Rash. 5. Acne. 

6. Ring-worm. 

SECTIOX XVII. 

Diseases of Obscure Origin 130 

1. "Nibbling" Disease. 2. Louping-ill. 3. Big- Head. 
4. Pustular Eruption. 

SECTIOX XVIII. 
Diseases of the Lamb 132 

I. Congenital Defects. 2. Reviving "Lifeless" Lambs. 

3. Retention of the Meconium. 4. Navel-ill. 5. Xon- 
contagious Diarrhea. 6. White Scours. 7. Colic. 
8. Constipation. 9. Pustular Eruption. 10. Tetanus. 

II. Stomatitis. 

SECTIOX XIX. 

Diseases of the Ewe 138 

1. Disorders of Gestation. 2. Abortion. 3. Dystocia. 

4. Decomposition of Fetus. 5. Displacement of the 
Uterus. 6. Eclampsia. 7. Metritis. 8. Mammitis. 

0. Abnormalities of the Milk. 10. Sterility. 

SECTION XX. 
Diseases of Rams and Wethers 14C 

1. Gravel. 2. Hernia. 3. Bloody Urine. 4. Impo- 
tence. 

SECTIOX XXI. 

Surgical Diseases 148 

1. Diseased Teeth. 2. Concussion of the Brain. 3. Ab- 
scesses. 4. Injuries. 5. Suturing. 6. Rumenotomy. 

7. Puncture of the Bladder. 8. Fractures and Disloca- 
tions. 0. Amputation of the Claws. 10. Panaritium. 

SECTIOX XXII. 
Parasitic Diseases 153 

A. External Parasites — 1. Sheep Scab. 2. Head Scab. 
3. Foot Scab. 4. Sheep Ticks. 5. Lice. 0. Mag- 
gots. 7. Fleas. 8. Flies. 

B. Internal Parasites — 1. Gid. 2. Grub in the Head. 
3. Lung Worms. 4. Stomach Worms. 5. Liver 
Rot. 6. Tapeworms. 7. Esophagostomum Colum- 
bianum. 8. Sarcosporidiosis. fl. Rare Parasites. 



12 CONTENTS 

SECTION XXIII. page 
Poisons 177 

A. Mineral Poisons — 1. Lead, Acute. 2. Lead, 
Chronic. 3. Arsenical, Acute. 4. Arsenical, Chronic. 
5. Phosphorus. 6. Copper. 7. Zinc. 8. Mercury. 
9. Alkali. 10. Carbolic Acid. 11. Mineral Acid. 
12. Saltpeter. 13. Common Salt. 14. Epsom 
Salts. 15. Sheep Dip. 16. Lime. 17. Petroleum. 
18. Rare Mineral Poisonings. 

B. Vegetable Poisons — Emergency Treatment — 1. Death 
Camas. 2. Loco. 3. Larkspur. 4. Lupine. 5. 
Aconite. 6. Water Hemlock. 7. Choke Cherry. 8. 
Laurel. 9. Veratrum. 10. Ergot. 11. Deadly 
Nightshade. 12. Woody Aster. 13. Sneeze Weed. 
14. Rubber Weed. 15. Strychnin. 10. Cotton 
Seed Meal. 17. Tobacco. 18. Digitalis. 19. Tur- 
pentine. 20. Rape Seed. 21. Croton Oil. 22. 
Hemlock. 23. Flax. 24. Horse Radish. 25. Toad- 
stools. 26. Potato Tops. 27. Poison Oak. 28. 
Kafir Corn and Sorghums. 29. Bearded Grasses. 
30. Ensilage. 31. Porcupine C4rass. 32. Uncom- 
mon Plant Poisonings. 

C. Animal Poisons. 

SECTION XXIV. 

Predatory Animals 210 

1. Coyote. 2. Wild Cats and Lynx. 3. Wolf and 
Cougar. 4. Bear. 5. Prairie Dog. 

SECTION XXV. 

Quarantine and Transportation Regulations 219 

Federal Regulations; State Regulations. 

List of Publications Consulted 228 

Index 229 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



PAGE 

Black- faced Highland Frontispiece 

Musimon of Europe 16 

Merino, Type A — Champion Ewe 17 

Merino, Type B — Champion Ram 17 

African Sheep 19 

Merino, Type C— Champion Ram 20 

Rambouillet — Champion Ram 21 

Rambouillet — Champion Ewe 21 

Argali 23 

Shropshire — Champion Ram 25 

Shropshire — Champion Ewe 25 

Range Rambouillets 27 

Typical Western Sheep Owner's Home Twenty Years Ago 28 

Homes Like this are the Rule Among the Sheep Men Now. ... 28 

Typical Southdown Ram 29 

Typical Southdown Ewe 29 

The Bell Wether 31 

Cheviot 32 

Oxford — Champion Ram 33 

Oxford — Champion Ewe 33 

Cheviot — Ram and Ewe 35 

Dorset 36 

A Typical Range Sheep 36 

Typical Hampshire Ram 37 

Typical Hampshire Ewe 37 

On the Western Range 39 

A Few of a Band of 3,000 39 

The Shepherd's Assistant 40 

Western Sheep Dog 40 

Dorset — Champion Ram 41 

Dorset — Champion Ewe 41 

Karakul — A Fur-bearing Sheep 44 

Leicester — Ram 45 

Leicester— Ewe 45 

Typical Tunis Ram 47 

Cotswold — Champion Ram 49 

Cotswold — Champion Ewe 49 

13 



14 ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Lincoln — Champion Ram 50 

Lincoln — Champion Ewe 50 

A Western Shearing Camp 03 

Typical Shearing Pens in the Range Country 04, 05 

Lambs at Shearing Time Cut Away from Ewes 09 

How a Lamb is Docked with Hot Pinchers 71 

Bacillus Anthracis S4 

Bacillus of Blackleg 80 

"Stunts" with the Lariat 100 

Counting Six Thousand 107 

Sheep-scab Mite — Male 155 

Sheep-scab Mite — Female 15G 

First Stage of Scab on Shoulder 158 

Characteristic Scab Lesions, Early Stages L39 

Scabby Buck, Hindquarters Affected 100 

Sheep Tick 102 

Sheep Louse 1 G3 

Sheep Foot Louse 164 

Estrus Ovis 167 

Distoma Hepaticum 170 

Sacs of Miescher from Muscles 173 

A Pine Tree Growing in Solid Rock 186 

Coyote Killers 210 

Coyote 212 

The Old Wolf Shot and Helpless 213 

Wolf Pups in Front of Den 214 

Wild Cat 215 

Lynx Cat Caught in Trap 216 

A Sheep-Killing Bear 217 

COLOR PLATES 

Death Camas 176a 

Purple Loco 184a 

Larkspur 192a 

Lupine 200a 

Aconite 208a 

Water Hemlock 216a 



SECTION I. 

HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 

The word sheep is of unknown etymology, and 
the origin of the animal itself is veiled in obscurity 
as great. It is supposed that domesticated sheep 
originated from the wild forms of sheep, the 
"Mouflon," the "Musimon," and the "Argali." 

The sheep is also one of the oldest of all do- 
mesticated animals; the different breeds are the 
results of environment, combined with man's 
ingenuity. For detailed histories the reader is 
referred to the various excellent texts on sheep 
management 1 ; space permits us to give only the 
briefest mention of the development of the sheep 
industry in this country. 

No domesticated sheep were found in North 
America by the early explorers, and the wild 
Rocky Mountain sheep has never been tamed 
nor crossed with domesticated breeds. 

For centuries, Spain controlled the fine-wool 
sheep of the world, and no exportations were 
allowed to other countries, until in 1765, when 
three hundred Spanish sheep were introduced 
into Saxony by royal favor, and became the foun- 
dation stock of the Saxony Merinos. In 1783, the 
French government imported Spanish sheep and 



JThose consulted were : 

Craig's "Sheep Farming." 

Wing's "Sheep Farming in America. 

Kleinheinz's "Sheep Management." 

15 



16 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



established them on a farm near Paris, called 
Rambouillet, progenitors of the breed of that 
name. 




Musimon of Europe. 

Courtesy American Sheep Breeder. 



During the first quarter of the nineteenth cen- 
tury Merinos were introduced into the United 
States. In 1801, the wool industry, that has made 
that state the leader of fine-wool sheep, was 
started in Ohio. The same year a number of Eam- 
bouillets were sent to New York by Robert Living- 
stone, our minister to France. In 1802, General 




Meki.no, Iyp'e A — Champion Ewe. 




PLATE I. 



Mekino, Type B — Champion Ram. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 



19 



Humphries, our minister to Spain, sent to his 
native state, Connecticut, nearly one hundred head 
of pure-bred Merinos. In 1809, William Jarvis, 
our minister to Portugal, sent four thousand pure- 
bred Merinos to Vermont. The next two years, it 
is estimated, nearly twenty thousand sheep were 
brought to this country and the industry thus 
started on foundation stock of the best blood. 

Due to the low altitude and moist climate of 
England, the Merino breeds have never done well 







African Sheep. 



Courtesy American Sheep Breeder. 



in that island, and, as a result, the attention of 
breeders, particularly of Robert Bakewell, was 
early given to improving the mutton qualities of 
their sheep. All of our breeds of medium and 
long-wool sheep, chiefly of the mutton types, have 
originated from strains long bred in England for 
their mutton producing qualities. 

In all countries of the world the sheep industry 



20 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



lias flourished and has produced untold wealth for 
the owners. While it is a far cry from the times 
of Abel and Abraham, and the shepherds with 
their little flocks on the Chaldean hills in Biblical 
story, to the present day of gigantic sheep ranches 
of Australia, Argentine and the United States, the 
habits of this docile animal have remained prac- 
tically the same as they were at the dawn of civil- 
ization. 




Merino, Type C — Champion Ram. 



In round numbers, there are about six hundred 
million sheep in the world, divided as follows: 

60,000,000 head in North America, the United 
States, Mexico and Canada leading in order 
named. 




R a: mmouiixet— Champion Ram. 





Rambouillet — Champion Ewe. 



,ATE II. 



HTSTORY OF THE BREEDS. 23 

120,000,000 in South America, the great majority 
being found in Argentine, Uruguay and Chile. 

130,000,000 in Europe, the leading sheep raising 
countries being European Russia, Great Britain, 
European Turkey, France, Spain and Austria- 
Hungary. 

115,000,000 in Asia, Asiatic Turkey, Asiatic 
Russia and India leading. 

60,000,000 in Africa, South Africa and Algeria 
producing nearly two-thirds of the total. 

115,000,000 in Asia, 

■HlffP ^g^ 115,000,000 in Ocean- 

AB6ALI - ica, Australia and New 

Courtesy American Sheep Breeder. 

Zealand leading. 

The three foremost sheep producing countries 
in order named are Australia, Argentine and the 
United States. 

In these days of inventions and improvements, 
no substitute for wool has ever yet been devised. 
The sheep remains the only machine that can 
transform the forage from deserts and forests into 
fleecy wool and delicious mutton, and it will thrive 
where other animals starve to death. Its chief 
disadvantage is its very feeble resistance to para- 
sites and diseases, the prevention of which is the 
greatest task of the shepherd. 



24 SHEEP DISEASES. 

The classification of the breeds according to the 
fineness of the wool-fibre seems to be the common 
custom, the three classes being: 

1. The fine-wool. 

2. The medium-wool. 

3. The long-wool. 

A convenient table is as follows: 



Fine 


Light-faced 


Merino 


Merino 


Medium 


Cotswold 


Shropshire 


Dorset 


Southdown- 


Leicester 


Oxford 


Lincoln 


Hampshire 


Cheviot 


Cheviot 


Dark-faced 


Dorset 


Shropshire 


Suffolk 


Southdown 


Long 


Hampshire 


Leicester 


Oxford 


Lincoln 


Suffolk 


Cotswold 





In this country, the Merino blood, crossed with 
medium and long-wool rams, has been extensively 
used. 

I. THE FINE-WOOLS. 
Merino. 

This well-known breed seems to have been 
known in Spain since the earliest records. It is 
supposed they were brought to Spain from Italy, 
where they had been taken by a band of Grecians 
to the city of Tarentum. From the eighth to the 
thirteenth centuries under the regime of the Sara- 
cens and Moors, the wool industry flourished in 
Spain. As previously stated, no exportations were 
made from Spain until 1765, when the Elector of 
Saxony secured three hundred Merinos and bred 




Shropshire — Champion Ram 




Shropshirk — Champion Ewe. 



PLATE III. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 



them so carefully that they constitute a famous 
branch of the Merino, called the Saxony Merinos. 

In 1783, France imported a large number of 
Spanish Merinos and placed them at Rambouillet, 
near Paris, and there created the breed known as 
Rambouillets. Von Homeyer, of Pomerania, Ger- 
many, improved this type so much, that a special 
breed known as the Von Homeyer Rambouillets is 
in existence. This type was brought to Ohio in 
1851, and has since flourished. 

Many other types of the Merino have been devel- 
oped in this 

■JIM' I j-JF JK6. • / 

L 




country, 
among them 



being the 
Standard De- 
laines, Na- 
tional De- 
laines, I m - 
proved D e - 
laines, Dick- 
ins o n De- 
laines, a n d 
Black - top 
Spanish Me- 
rinos. 
At the present time it is customary to divide 
the Merino into three classes: 

Class A: The extreme wool production type. 
The entire body is covered with folds and wrin- 
kles, and there is an abundance of yolk in the 
fleece. 



Ra.xge Rambouillets. 



28 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



Class B: The body is not so wrinkled, which 
makes the shearing easier. It is the commercial 
type for wool production. This does not include 
the Rambouillet. 




Typical Western Sheep Owner's Home Twenty Years Ago. 




Homes like this aril the rule among the Sheep Men now. 



Class C: This type has a longer fibre and the 
skin is nearly free from folds. These are better 




Typical Southdown Ram. 




Typical Southdown Ewe. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 



31 



mutton producers than the two above-mentioned, 
types. It includes the Delaine Merino. 

The Rambouillet. 

The Rambouillet is smooth-bodied, except for a 
few wrinkles on the neck. The rams have large, 
spiral-shaped horns, while the ewes are hornless. 
This breed is larger and more growthy than the 
Merino, but its wool is not so fine. 




The Bell Wether. 



II. 



THE MEDIUM-WOOLS. 
Shropshire. 



This breed was first recognized in the early fif- 
ties of the last century, and was brought to per- 
fection in the central counties of England. It is 
one of the most popular of all western range sheep, 
the "Shrops" being a general-purpose breed. 

Quick to mature, hardy, good mothers, prolific 
breeders, easy feeders and good rustlers, they have 
attained their position by their sterling qualities. 



32 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



They are medium in size, and cross well with other 
breeds. They are dark-faced. 

The first Shropshires were brought to this coun- 
try in 1833. They were taken to Ohio. 

Southdown. 

This is also a dark-faced, medium-wool breed. 




Cheviot. 
Courtesy Dotshome Farms. 

It is perhaps the oldest of the British types, its 
history dating back for many centuries. 

They are noted for their low, compact bodies, 
with small bone, and excellent wool. As a mutton 
sheep they are unexcelled. 




Oxi OKI) — Champion Ram. 




Oxford — Champion Ewe. 



V. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 



35 



Some claim specimens of this breed were 
brought with the Pilgrims, and that as early as 
1688 they were found in Virginia. In 1803 a 
small flock was imported into New York, and in 
1824 to 1825 many more were imported. 

Oxford. 

The Oxford originated from crossing Cotswold 
rams on Southdown and Hampshire ewes. This 
was begun in about 1830, and in 1861 they were 
recognized as a distinct breed. 




Cheviot — Ram and Ewe. 



They are very large and mature quickly. They 
yield the heaviest fleece of any of the Down breeds, 
fifteen pounds being a common average. Tt is an 
excellent small-band sheep, consuming large quan- 
tities of food and making good gains. As a forag- 



3C 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



ing sheep it is inferior to the Shropshire. It is 
dark-faced. 




Dorskt — Valley View Farm, Wasco, 111. 



Hampshire. 

This breed was evolved from sheep raised in 
Hampshire and Wiltshire, England, crossed with 




A Typical Range Sheep. 




Typical Hampshire Ka.u. 




. . 



Typical Hampshire Ewe. 



PL.ATK VI. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 



39 



Southdown rams. Some claim Cotswolds also 
were used in the cross. The breed is over one 
hundred years old, and is a very popular one 




K ^^^^s^^ iiii> ^f^r^ 



Ox the Western Range. 

where food is abundant. It makes larger gains 
than any other Down breed during the first part 
of its life. 

The wool is not heavy. The ewe is very pro- 
lific, and the lambs of such quick growth that they 







*V *£.** 




A Few of a Band of 3,000. 

make an excellent "hot-house" variety for early 
markets. 

Cheviot. 
The Cheviot acquires its name from the Cheviot 
Hills on the boundary between England and Scot- 



40 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



land. This breed is as old as the earliest records. 
They are great foragers, resembling the Shrop- 




Tiik Shepherd's Assistant. 

The well trained sheep dog, with almost 

human intelligence, is indispensable. 

shire in this respect. On account of the strife 
and ''Border Wars" resulting from the frequent 
disagreements between English and Scottish 




Western Sheep Dog. 











Dorset — Champion Ram. 




Dorset— Champion Ewe. 



E VII. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 4:; 

chiefs, the breed was not improved for centuries. 
With long bodies, they were adapted for moun- 
tain ranging, and were known as the "long 
sheep. ' ' Crossing has given them better conforma- 
tion. They are excellent wool and mutton pro- 
ducers, good foragers, and are gaining in popu- 
larity. Their beauty and alert activity have con- 
tributed not a little in this. 

Dorset. 

This breed is white-faced; it is peculiar in that 
both ram and ewe have horns. The Dorsets seem 
to have sprung from a breed common in the 
southern and central parts of England since the 
earliest times. The county of Dorset was espe- 
cially famed for this kind of sheep, hence the 
name. About 1862 they were recognized as a 
distinct breed. 

Their great prolificacy renders the Dorset valu- 
able for intensive farming; two lambings a year, 
and frequently twins, is the record. If only one 
crop of lambs is raised, the Dorset ewe will come 
in season very early, and produce lambs for the 
1 1 hot-house ' ' trade. 

Suffolk. 

The progenitors of this breed were known as 
the Norfolks, and thrived in southeastern Eng- 
land. They were hardy and good rangers. Along 
in the early part of the last century they were 
improved by crossing with the Southdowns; in 
1859 they were recognized as a distinct breed. 



44 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



This animal is somewhat smaller than a Hamp- 
shire but larger than a Shropshire. The lambs 
are usually black. They are not well known in 
this country. 

III. THE LONG-WOOLS. 

Leicester. 

About 1755 Robert Bakewell, the famous agri- 
cultural genius of England, began to mate well 




Karakul — A Fur-bearing Sheep. 

formed sheep found in Leicester county. Soon he 
had made a notable improvement, and a new 
breed came into being, known as the Leicester 
(pronounced les-ter). 

The body is excellent in shape and smooth- 
ness, but the lightness of wool on the belly and 




Leicester— Ram. 




plate via. 



Leicester — Ewe. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS, 47 

length of legs gives it a somewhat "leggy" ap- 
pearance. The original animal, as Bakewell bred 
it, was not hardy, since he sacrificed constitu- 
tion and stamina for shapely type. 

Their excellence consists in fattening quickly 
where food is abundant. For this reason the Lei- 
cester ram is often used for crossing on other 
breeds where early fat lambs are desired. 




Typical Tunis Ham. 

The Border Leicester was originated by Cully, 
who secured Leicester rams from Bakewell and 
crossed them on an old long wool breed, called the 
Teeswaters. The head of the Border Leicester 
is free from wool, while the Leicester has a tuft. 



48 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Cotswold. 

The Cotswold is said to have originated from 
two words: " Cotes," referring to the barn in 
which the sheep are kept, and ' ' wold, ' ' to an open, 
rolling upland range. The early history of this 
breed is veiled in obscurity, although it is claimed 
they were found in England when Caesar visited 
the island. 

Some authorities claim the present breed is the 
result of crossing the original Cotswold with 
Bakewell's improved Leicesters. This cross re- 
duced the size, increased the mutton quality, and 
lessened the resistance to disease. 

The Cotswold is a. large, massive appearing 
sheep, with long wool, fine in fibre. A valuable 
feature of this breed is its prepotency. In cross- 
ing with other breeds it unfailingly transmits its 
tendency to increase the size and the weight of 
the fleece.' It is a valuable breed for intensive 
farming. 

Lincoln. 

This is another ancient breed, improved to their 
present high standard by crossing with the Lei- 
cesters. The original breed w T as found in Lincoln- 
shire, England, hence the present name. In 1862 
they were recognized as a distinct breed, and 
have been extensively imported to the United 
States and Canada. 

This is the largest breed of sheep, being mas- 
sive, strong boned, and yielding heavy fleeces. 
They are extremely popular in crossing on Merino 
ewes; the progeny have a fine, large, lustrous 
fleece. 







Cotswolu — Champion Ram. 







Cotswold — Champion Ewe. 



PLATE IX. 




Lincoln — Champion Ram. 




Lincoln — Champion Ewe. 



PLATE x. 



HISTORY OF THE BREEDS. 51 

In the West, they are valuable small ranch 
sheep, giving great returns in wool, mutton and 
lambs. 

LESSER KNOWN BREEDS. 
Romney or Kent. 

This breed originated in southeastern England, 
and some splendid specimens are found in this 
country. Their chief use on the range is to cross 
on the Merino. They are white-faced. 

Corriedale. 

These sheep were recognized as a distinct breed 
in New Zealand about 1911. They originated 
from crossing Lincoln rams on Merino ewes. They 
are highly thought of as wool and mutton pro- 
ducers, especially for the frozen meat trade. They 
are becoming more extensively raised in the 
United States, several fine bands being found in 
the West. 

Karakul. 

Karakul sheep in small numbers have been im- 
ported into the United States. This is a fur- 
bearing animal, a native of Bokhara, a Eussian 
dependency, and, due to the laws of this little 
country, forbidding any exportations of sheep, are 
little known outside of their native heath. They 
have been crossed with various other breeds, such 
as Merinos, the progeny being called "Karakul 
Finewools," and with Persians, the cross being 
known as "Karakul Persians." The latter cross 
produces very fine skins. 



52 SHEEP DISEASES. 

The Black-Faced Highland. 

This breed is an inhabitant of the Cheviot Hills, 
and is also known as the Black-faced Heath. It 
is of the long-wool type. (See frontispiece.) 

Tunis. 

The foundation stock for this breed was im- 
ported from Africa over a century ago, but the 
Civil War almost destroyed it. The distinguish- 
ing mark is an exceedingly long, fat tail, and the 
hornless head covered with tawny, brown hair. 

Persian. 

Persian sheep were introduced to this country 
some years ago. When crossed with Merinos they 
have done well in the arid regions of the west. 

CROSS-BRED SHEEP. 

Cross-bred sheep are commonly raised by range 
men who desire a hardy animal, combining the 
qualities of several breeds. The commonest crosses 
are the long-wools, such as the Lincoln and Cots- 
wold, on the Merino. Other well known crosses 
are the Shropshire and Hampshire on the Merino. 
Due to different range conditions, a cross success- 
ful in some part of the country may prove value- 
less in another. Arguments about the ''best 
1 treed" or the "best cross" are but a waste of 
time; the desideratum being ultimate profit. 



SECTION II. 

ANATOMY. 

The anatomy of the sheep greatly resembles 
that of the ox in general. A brief summary is as 
follows: 2 

THE SKELETON. 
Vertebrae. 

The vertebrae are forty-nine to fifty-one in num- 
ber: seven cervical; thirteen thoracic; six lumbar; 
five sacral (fused into one bone), and eighteen 
to twenty coccygeal. 

Ribs and Sternum. 

There are normally thirteen pairs of ribs; eight 
pairs of sternal, and five pairs asternal. 

The sternum consists of seven sternebrae; the 
cariniform cartilage being absent. 

The thorax is relatively short and wide. 

Cranium and Face. 

The occipital is very strong and thick. 
The sphenoid is very short. 
The ethmoid rather extensive. 
The interparietals small. 

The parietals form part of the temporal fossae. 
The frontals form nearly one-half the length of 
the skull. 



-'Sisson's "The Anatomy of the Domestic Animals" was 
consulted. 



54 SHEEP DISEASES. 

The temporals, divided into the squamous and 
petrous parts, which fuse at birth, form protective 
coverings for the auditory canal. 

The maxilla is short and broad. 

The premaxilla is thin and flattened. 

The palatine bone is relatively large. 

The pterygoid bone is comparatively large. 

The nasal bones are short, the size depending 
on the breed. 

The lacrimal bone is large. 

The malar bone is relatively large. 

The turbinals are very fragile. 

The vomer is wide, its size depending on the 
breed. 

The mandible or inferior maxilla does not com- 
pletely fuse during life. 

The hyoid is very short. 

The skull, as a whole, is very powerful and well 
protects the head. The sheep's chief weapon 
of defense is butting, and its head has been de- 
veloped to withstand extraordinary concussion. 

Thoracic or Front Limb. 

The bones of the front limb are small but power- 
ful, and consist of the following: 

The scapula is nearly triangular in shape. 

The humerus is short, and has a very small 
deltoid tuberosity. 

The radius is short and relatively broad. 

The ulna extends nearly the whole length of 
the radius. 

The carpus consists of six bones, four in the 
upper row and two in the lower. 



ANATOMY. 55 

The metacarpus consists of the large metacarpal 
and a small metacarpal. 

The digits are four in number, only two are 
fully developed. They have three phalanges and 
three sesamoids each. 

Pelvic Limb. 

The ilia are almost parallel. 

The ischium is relatively large. The acetabu- 
lum is very small, and the pelvic inlet is rather 
elliptical and oblique. 

The femur is comparatively small and cyl- 
indrical. 

The tibia is short and curved. 

The fibula consists of the two extremities con- 
nected by a structure resembling a cord. 

The patella is rather long and narrow. 

The tarsus consists of five bones, several being 
fused together. 

The large metatarsus is longer than the corre- 
sponding metacarpus; the small metatarsus being 
a quadrilateral disc. 

The phalanges and sesamoids are almost iden- 
tical with those of the front limb. 

Joints and Ligaments. 

The temporo-mandibular articulations permit 
of the extensive lateral movements of rumination. 

The ligamentum nuchae is well developed. 

The articulations of the thorax are immovable. 

The shoulder joint has an acute articular angle. 

In the elbow joint no movement occurs between 
the radius and ulna. 



56 SHEEP DISEASES. 

The carpal joints are very free. 

The metacarpophalangeal joints are two for 
each digit. 

The sacro-iliac joint is very strong. 

The hip joint is well protected by a marginal 
cartilage which reinforces the shallow acetabulum. 

In the stifle joint the synovial sacs communicate 
so freely as to form a common joint cavity. 

The tibio-fibular joint is a complete arthrosis. 

The hock joint has very little mobility. 

Adapted as the sheep is for mountain climb- 
ing, its joints are very strong, and dislocations 
are rare. 

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 

The panniculus is well developed. 

The masseter is not large but is well developed. 

The hyoid muscles are very strong. 

The diaphragm is appreciably more oblique than 
in the ox, and relatively wide. 

The muscles of the shoulder girdle, shoulder, 
arm, forearm, abdomen, pelvis and pelvic limb are 
similar to those of other animals. 

There are four extensors of the leg and foot. 

Sprains of muscles, even on the roughest of 
ground, with much jumping, rarely occur in sheep. 

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 

The lips are thin, and the upper one marked 
by a distinct cleft. 

The hard palate is smooth, and the mucous mem- 
brane more or less pigmented. 

The cheeks are lined with large papillae. 



ANATOMY. 57 

The tongue lias a smooth tip. 

The milk teeth number twenty. 

There are thirty-two permanent teeth: eight 
incisors in the lower jaw; none in the upper; six 
molars in each arcade, or twelve in the lower and 
twelve in the irpper jaw. The cement is usually 
black. The following table gives the eruption 
periods of the various teeth : 



Teeth 


Temporary 


Permanent 


Central incisors 


At birth 


1 year 


Second " 


1st or 2d week 


2 


Third 


2d or 3d 


3 " 


Corner 


3d or 4th " 


4 


First molar 


4th week 


1 V 2 to 2 years 


Second " 


" 


" 


Third '* 


" 


" 


Fourth " 




3 to 5 months 


Fifth " 




9 to 12 


Sixth 




1 to 2 years 



When the lamb is about a year old, the central 
pair of milk teeth drop out, succeeded by a pair 
of permanent teeth. 

About two years of age, the second pair of milk 
teeth (on each side of the centrals) drop out, 
and permanent teeth take their place. 

A year later, the third pair of milk teeth are 
"shed" and the permanent teeth have appeared 
in their place. 

At about four years of age, all the milk teeth 
have vanished and the sheep has a ' ' full mouth. ' ' 

Forced feeding and fattening cause the teeth to 
shed earlier; some show sheep having lost sev- 
eral of their permanent teeth before the age of 
five years. However, as a rule, the seven-year-old 
has lost one or two, and has a "broken mouth"; 
but one cannot tell the age of sheep with cer- 
tainty, by the teeth. 



58 SHEEP DISEASES. 

The salivary glands are well formed and the 
parotid ducts open opposite the third molar. 

The tonsil is bean-shaped and about one-half 
inch long. 

The pharynx has a median fold which is a con- 
tinuation of the nasal septum. 

The esophagus has a lumen of about one inch 
when moderately distended. 

The four compartments of the stomach — the 
rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum — have 
a total capacity of about four gallons. The 
omasum is very small, having a capacity of only 
a pint. The abomasum is larger, holding nearly 
two quarts. 

The small intestines are about eighty feet long, 
and the lumen is about one inch in diameter. 

The cecum is about a foot long, and of a capac- 
ity of nearly a quart. 

The colon is about fifteen feet long, its lumen 
ranging from one inch to two inches. 

The liver weighs about one and one-half pounds, 
and lies mainly on the right of the median line. 

The bile duct joins the pancreatic duct and 
opens into the duodenum about a foot posterior to 
the stomach. 

The spleen is triangular in shape, weighing 
about three ounces. 

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. 

The nostrils are small and not very dilatable. 
The nasal cavity is very short and narrow be- 
hind. 

The larynx is small and compact. 



ANATOMY. 59 

The trachea is small, and anyone who has at- 
tempted to inject gasoline into it will concur in 
the statement that it is very mobile. 

The thoracic cavity is small, and the pleura 
thick. 

The lnngs are very unequal in size, the right 
one being the larger. The left one has three lobes, 
and the right has four or five. 

The thyroid is very extensive, being largely 
utilized in the manufacture of a biological product. 

The thymus is very pale and delicate. 

THE URINARY ORGANS. 

The kidneys weigh about four ounces, and are 
bean-shafted. The right kidney lies under the 
first three lumbar vertebrae, while the left one 
is usually further forward. In the adult sheep, 
when the rumen becomes distended with food, the 
left kidney is pushed back several inches. 

The ureter of the left kidney has a peculiar 
course, due to the movable position of the kidney. 
It curves upward and inward, and crossing the 
median plane, runs backward on the left side. 
The right ureter runs back in a relatively straight 
line. 

The bladder is long and narrow, and extends 
rather far forward on the abdominal floor. 

The adrenals are bean-shaped. The right one 
lies along the inner border of the kidney and is 
about an inch long and wide. The left one is 
somewhat longer and slightly bent in shape. It 
lies across the left renal vein, and is not in con- 
tact with the kidney. 



60 SHEEP DISEASES. 

THE MALE GENITAL ORGANS. 

The scrotum is long, pendulous and has a dis- 
tinct neck. 

The testicles are very large and oval. 

The epididymis is very adherent to the testicle. 

The spermatic cord is long, and the vaginal ring 
small. 

The vas deferens is of small calibre. 

The vesiculae seminales are compact. 

The prostate is light yellow in color. 

The penis is cylindrical, with a urethral process 
extending out from the glans. 

The prepuce is long and narrow. 

The urethra lies in a groove on the lower surface 
of the penis, forming a twisted process. Its diam- 
eter is not over one-sixteenth of an inch. This is 
one reason why mangels or sugar beets are a dan- 
gerous food for rams and wethers, on account of 
the calculi they form. 

THE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS. 

The ovaries are small. 

The fallopian tubes are long and tortuous. 

The uterus lies almost entirely in the abdominal 
cavity, a thing that should be remembered in diag- 
nosing pregnancy. 

The vagina is short, with a thick wall. 

The urethra is very short, and dilatable. This 
prevents serious consequences from urinary calculi 
in ewes. 

The mammary glands are relatively large, and 
pigmented. 



ANATOMY. 61 

THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 

The average sheep has about one gallon of 
blood; lambs scarcely a pint. This makes it an 
easy prey to blood sucking parasites. 

The pericardium is usually buried in a mass of 
fat. 

The heart is relatively large and situated prin- 
cipally upon the left of the median plane, being 
opposite the third to the fifth ribs. 

The arterial and venous systems are similar to 
those of other animals. 

The lymph system is very well marked in the 
sheep. 

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 

The diseases of the nervous system are many 
and varied in the sheep, but as practically all 
pathological lesions are caused by parasites, not 
much can be done, except to perform a very care- 
ful autopsy. 

The spinal cord is long and small, and the brain 
is relatively small. The nervous system is similar 
to that of other animals; perhaps not so highly 
developed as in the horse and dog. 

THE ORGANS OF THE SPECIAL SENSES. 

The eye is round, and the lids rather thick. 
The vitreous body is not very fluid. 

The ear inclines outward and upward, differing 
in the several breeds. The auditory canal is small. 

The skin is thin and of a pinkish hue when the 
animal is in good health, and covered with wool. 
The caliber of the wool fiber varies from one five- 



62 SHEEP DISEASES. 

thousandth of an inch in Merinos to one four- 
lnmdred-fif tietli of an inch in Cotswolds. 

The olfactory organs are well developed; the 
ewe depends npon the sense of smell to identify 
her young. 

The sense of taste is highly developed; no ani- 
mal has a more dainty taste than has the sheep, 
still it will eat poisonous plants, such as death 
caraas, when it is young and succulent, and the 
animal is very hungry for green food. 



SECTION III. 

HYGIENE. 

All of those methods by which sheep are 
shielded to a greater or less extent from disease; 
kept in a state of health, and which contribute 
to their thrift, may correctly be classed as hygiene. 

No animal has less resistance to disease when 
once infected than has the sheep. No animal re- 
pays hygienic care and surroundings with greater 
profit than this one. 




A Western Shearing Camp. 

About 1200 are Sheared a Day in 

This Small Camp. 

For detailed information as to the management 
of sheep, the reader is referred to various books 
devoted to this subject. The following discussion 
is designed merely to outline the management and 
care that is conducive to health. 

63 



64 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



GENERAL CARE. 

The care of fifty sheep on a small eastern farm 
is a vastly different undertaking from watching 
over a band of many thousand on the western 
range. While the habits of the animal are the 
same, whether it be in a bunch of a dozen or a 




Typical Sjieahing Pl.\s> 



band of three thousand, the management must 
vary to meet existing conditions. For that reason, 
the carefully formulated rules that may suit one 
breeder's fancy will be utterly out of place or 
wholly impractical for another. 

In all cases, however, kindness, cleanliness, lib- 
eral and regular feeding, together with a natural 



HYGIENE. 



65 



aptitude for caring for sheep are essentials for 
success. 

The pulse rate of sheep varies considerably, 
although seventy to ninety beats a minute may 
be taken as an average. Respirations vary from 
twelve to twenty a minute when the animal is per- 





ia the Range Country, 



fectly at ease. The temperature is usually around 
103 degrees Fahrenheit, taken per rectum, al- 
though this depends to some extent on the age, 
weather, and degree of fatness. 

No other animal so clearly exhibits the symp- 
toms of disease as does the sheep. The loss of 
appetite; the listless air; the dull eye; the drawn- 



66 SHEEP DISEASES. 

up appearance of the abdomen, and the seeking of 
a lonely spot in which to lie down, clearly point 
out the invasion of some disorder. Other symp- 
toms, more or less marked, give us a clue to the 
actual trouble, although in many cases where there 
is no history to guide one, the diagnosis must be 
made largely by exclusion, or from a postmortem 
examination of some animal similarly affected. 

Handling. 

Catching a sheep for examination is often per- 
formed incorrectly or carelessly. Grabbing a 
sheep by the wool often causes a bruise that may 
persist for months. Nothing else makes quite 
so unfavorable an impression upon the experienced 
sheep man as lunging wildly at an animal, and 
going through unnecessary antics in attempting 
to catch it. 

As strangers frighten sheep, it is a better plan 
to have the one accustomed to taking care of the 
flock catch the animal desired. If this is not pos- 
sible, drive the sheep into a small enclosure and 
grasp the flank, just over the stifle. 

To set it on its rump, place the left arm around 
the sheep's neck and hold the right forearm of 
the animal with the left hand. With the right 
hand reach under and grasp the right hind leg- 
above the hock. Pulling it against one's breast 
and exerting a little traction on the hind legs, the 
sheep will be raised on its rump easily, and ren- 
dered powerless to struggle. 

Leading a sheep is a simple matter when done 
correctly, although some Merinos will be found 



HYGIENE. 67 

to be more stubborn than a mule. Get on its left 
side, place the left arm around its neck, with 
the other hand on its tail-head, and by tickling it 
slightly, the animal will walk briskly along. 

To carry a sheep, if it be a small one or a lamb, 
stand at the rear and to the right, slip the right 
hand back of the sheep 's right front leg and place 
it between the front legs. Lift it up slightly in 
front, and grasp the left hind leg just above the 
hock. Lift up, catching hold of both hind legs. 
This renders the sheep helpless, and it can be car- 
ried without struggling. 

To load sheep, into a wagon without a chute, 
two men can handle a small bunch quickly in the 
following manner: One man stands on each side 
of the sheep. The right hand of one grasps the 
left hand of the other between the forelegs, and 
the other hands are clasped in a similar manner 
under the flanks. Chutes are used where there are 
large numbers, and a goat acting as leader saves 
much time. 

Shipping sheep singly in crates supplied with 
a gunny sack of hay and grain is accomplished 
with very little loss. The expressmen, as a rule, 
take good care to water the animal at frequent 
intervals. 

s Feeding. 

As this is not a text on sheep management we 
merely wish to emphasize the importance of 
punctual feeding from the standpoint of hygiene. 

On the western range, alfalfa, field peas and 
kale are largely used as winter feeds. The preg- 



68 SHEEP DISEASES. 

nant ewes are given a small quantity of oats to- 
wards lambing time. Alsike, clover, rape, rye, 
roots, and many other foods are used, depending 
on the locality and cost of feed. Timothy is very 
constipating, leading to "blind staggers," follow- 
ing impaction. Those sections supplied with 
"bunch-grass" and where the snow is not deep 
are fortunate, for nothing else is needed, except 
sulphur and salt. 

In the East, and for fitting sheep for exhibition, 
silage, cabbage and concentrated foods of many 
kinds are used. 

Shepherd's Calendar. 

March: The lambing season. This depends 
greatly upon the locality and breed. 

April: When about two weeks old the lambs 
are docked, branded, and the males castrated. 
The feet of the whole band should be attended to. 

May: The sheep are sheared and dipped and 
started for their summer range. 

June, July and August: Feeding in the forest 
ranges, often in sight of snow-capped mountains. 
This is one reason why western sheep are so 
healthy and thrifty; they are far above the 
parasite-infested lowlands. The lambs are weaned 
when about four to five months old. 

September: Toward the latter part of this 
month, the band is slowly trailed back home. In 
the Northwest, fields of wheat and oats "stubble" 
are purchased to turn the sheep into. In Colorado 
field peas are used. 

October: The band is culled, and the bucks 



HYGIENE. 69 

turned in. Towards the latter part of the month 
the feet are again trimmed if necessary. 

November, December, January and February: 
Feeding at the home ranch, and selling lambs 
when the prices are favorable. 

CARE OF THE EWE. 

The period of estrum continues from two to four 
days, and the ewe will come in heat again in 
about sixteen days if not pregnant. 




li iLB 



Lambs at Shearing Timr Cut 
Away Prom Ewes. 

The average period of gestation is about one 
hundred and forty-five days, or four and one-half 
months. Male lambs are carried a little longer. 
If a ewe goes over a week after her time, the 
chances are the lamb is dead. Before lambing, the 
ewes should be "tagged" by removing any filthy 
locks of wool. 

Separating the pregnant ewes for the winter 
season is the best system, for then the danger of 
abortion from crowding and bruising is lessened. 
Only the brightest and cleanest of food should be 
fed to pregnant ewes. 



70 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Turnips and cabbage make a good green food 
ration, while mangels and sugar beets are not rec- 
ommended before lambing. In parts of the west, 
along tlie coast, where green food grows the year 
around, these problems are solved by nature. Be- 
fore lambing the food should be abundant and 
laxative, a pound of equal parts of bran and oats 
being a fine addition to the hay ration. 

When the weather is not too stormy or wet, the 
animals should have plenty of exercise. This will 
prevent many cases of difficult parturition. The 
old English method of hauling a load of hay a 
mile from the sheep corral, compelling the sheep 
to follow it for their food, and then driving them 
back in the evening, was an excellent one. 

In the early spring, after a hard snowy winter, 
when the band is turned out to pick over the 
rough parts of the ranch, many abortions and 
deaths occur among the ewes from eating brush, 
moss, or any green forage that may be full of tur- 
pentine or other toxic ingredients. . Frozen roots, 
spoiled silage, mouldy hay, and an exclusive diet 
of timothy have caused the death of many a preg- 
nant ewe. 

When the lambing season arrives, the busiest 
time of the year on a sheep ranch is at hand. The 
ewes expected to lamb early should be given a 
roomy pen, dry, clean and quiet. As ewes seldom 
lamb between midnight and early in the morning, 
one should watch them at all hours, except this 
time. 

When a lamb gets away from its mother and 
she later refuses to claim it, they should be put 



HYGIENE. 



71 



in a pen together. If the mother butts it away, 
she should be tied up and the lamb allowed to 
snck. This usually causes a family reunion. 

The various diseases and disorders of the ewe 
are considered in the section, "Diseases of the 
Ewe." 

CARE OF THE LAMB. 

If the lamb is born normal, and does not become 
infested with parasites, very little need be done to 
keep it in a healthy and thrifty condition. 




How a Lamb is Docked with Hot Pinchers. 

Courtesy American Sheep Breeder. 

When an apparently "lifeless lamb" is dropped 
it may be possible to resuscitate it by the follow- 
ing method: Clean all mucus from the mouth and 
nostrils, and blow gently into its nose. Lay it on 
its belly and slightly tap each side over the lungs. 
A whiff or two of aromatic spirits of ammonia is 
beneficial. 

For a chilled lamb, wrapping it up in a warm 
coat or blanket and giving a few drops of whiskey 



72 SHEEP DISEASES. 

in a little warmed water is good. In the several 
large sheep raising states that have lately gone 
"dry" aromatic spirits of ammonia may be sub- 
stituted. The latter will also keep longer around 
a sheep camp. Spirit of camphor and sweet 
spirit of nitre both contain large amounts of alco- 
hol, and may be employed as stimulants. 

When a lamb must be raised by hand, remember 
ewe's milk is much richer in fat and somewhat 
richer in casein than cow's milk, as the following 
table will show: 

MILK ANALYSIS. 

Ewe Cow 

Water 80.82 87.27 

Casein 4.97 3.02 

Albumin 1.55 0.53 

Fat 6.86 3.64 

Sugar 4.91 4.88 

Ash 0.89 0.71 

100.00 100.00 

The specific gravity of ewe's milk is about 
1.0341. No water should be added to cow's milk 
to feed an orphan lamb, but rather the richest 
whole milk that can be obtained. If the ewes have 
been fed oil cake the milk is increased greatly in 
fats, often causing scours in the lambs. 

When the lambs are about two weeks old, on a 
bright, sunny day, the males should be castrated. 
Select a clean, dry place for this work, and with 
disinfected hands and knife, hold the lamb, and 
cut off the lower third of the scrotum. Pull the tes- 
ticle and entire cord out. In older lambs the cord 
may be scraped off. If everything is kept clean 
no further attention is required. Keep the lambs 
by themselves for several hours as they will lie 



HYGIENE. 73 

down and get trampled if pnt in with the rest of 
the sheep. Castrating in the evening has proven 
very successful with some breeders, as it gives the 
lambs a chance to remain quiet over night. 

At the same time the males are castrated, all the 
lambs may be docked, branded, tattooed and 
marked. The easiest and most bloodless method 
of docking is to heat a pair of pincers red hot 
and use it to sever the tails; over a dozen lambs 
can be docked with one heating. 

When the lambs are about four or five months 
old, or along in August, they are weaned. By this 
time they have learned to pick up almost enough 
feed to satisfy their wants, and merely taking 
them entirely away from the ewes, a day or two, 
will render them weaned. 

At weaning time it is a good plan to separate 
the ram lambs from the others, although this is 
not done sometimes until they are six months of 
age. 

A healthy lamb will become plump and make a 
steady growth. A stunted lamb seldom "catches 
up." It is remarkable how fast range lambs fat- 
ten in the fall while trailed back on stubble or 
field peas. Many a carload has topped the market 
from just this kind of feed. 

CARE OF THE BUCK. 

If the animal has been kept in good condition 
and given sufficient exercise, he requires but little 
attention. A ration of bran and oats fed a month 
or so before the mating season is conducive to 
vigor. Sugar beets and mangels should never be 



74 SHEEP DISEASES. 

fed bucks or wethers, for, as stated elsewhere, 
urinary calculi are apt to be formed, which, owing 
to the small caliber of the urethra — one-sixteenth 
of an inch — leads to death. 

On the western range about one buck to thirty- 
five ewes is the usual number. 

After the mating season the male should be 
given sufficient food to keep him in fair condition, 
but not fat. Exercise is the most essential thing 
in sheep hygiene. They are naturally roving ani- 
mals, and the main cause of impotent bucks is 
traceable to lack of exercise which leads to vicious 
habits and excessive fat. 



SECTION IV. 

MEDICINES AND THEIR 
ADMINISTRATION. 

GENERAL CONSIDERATION. 

Comparatively few medicines 3 are used inter- 
nally in the treatment of sheep diseases. Due to 
the tortuous digestive system, drugs are very 
slowly absorbed and usually the animal is dead 
before action is obtained. 

As most ailments that require medicinal treat- 
ment are emergency cases, such as poisons, para- 
sites and injuries, large and heroic doses must be 
given, and repeated often. 

It is well to remember the common remedies 
found in every household or sheep camp, such as 
salt, pepper, ginger, soda, turpentine and the like, 
for often one does not have access to a complete 
medicine chest. To be able to use what is at 
hand intelligently is better than to know the 
pharmacopeia by heart and overlook the simple 
remedies. Long treatises have been written on 
drugs, but the more experience one has in the 
treatment of sheep, the fewer drugs he will use. 
To not overdo the treatment requires as much 
judgment as to render adequate aid. 

As many sheep are herded during the summer 



•Quitman's "Synopsis of Veterinary Medicine" was the text 
consulted. 

75 



76 SHEEP DISEASES. 

season far up in the mountains away from the 
haunts of civilization, and where veterinary at- 
tendance is not available except in extraordinary 
cases, veterinarians can serve their clients best 
under these conditions by outfitting a small medi- 
cine case of simple remedies and giving the herder 
explicit directions how to use them and also the 
conditions that may arise that will justify him in 
sending fifty, seventy-five or maybe even two hun- 
dred or three hundred miles for the veterinarian's 
services. 

Part of the instruction given below can be 
adapted by the veterinarian to the use of the shep- 
herd and given to him with such remedies as he 
deems necessary to be taken along in the camp 
when the herd is driven away for the summer. 

Administering Medicines. 

The restraint of sheep has been dealt with in 
the section on Hygiene. 

Setting the sheep on its rump to drench it is 
inadvisable. Standing it in a corner is the best 
method to pursue, for then the danger of pouring 
a portion of the drench into the lungs will be ob- 
viated. 

A two-ounce dose syringe is the handiest article 
with which to give medicine. Dilute the drugs 
well with water, raw oil, milk, sirup, or gruel, and 
introduce the nozzle between the lips in the inter- 
dental space. Do not hold the tongue, but keep 
the mouth closed, and the animal will swallow 
slowly. Proper restraint is half the battle. 

To drench with a bottle requires patience and 



MEDICINES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 77 

skill ; unnumbered sheep have been given mechan- 
ical pneumonia by this method. Small sheep or 
lambs may be straddled, while large ones should 
be backed into a corner where they cannot run 
away. The left hand should be placed on the 
lower jaw, with the thumb in the interdental space. 
Place the neck of the bottle on the tongue or near 
it, and pour in, very slowly, about half the con- 
tents of the bottle. Best a minute or two between 
' ' drinks. ' ' 

When a bottle is not available, a spoon may be 
used. Pouch out the lower lip and pour the med- 
icine into the cavity so formed. 

Mixing the medicines in thick sirup and smear- 
ing on the tongue or teeth in the form of an elect- 
uary is a convenient method. 

Hypodermic medication may be performed in 
any part of the skin where the latter is denuded 
of wool. . 

Enemas are valuable in many cases. Adding 
a tablespoonful of glycerin to a pint of warm, 
soapy water adds to the efficiency of the injection. 

Dips should be kept warm, and the animals 
treated only on bright sunny days. For foot trou- 
bles, the solution may be placed in a trough or 
shallow vat, several inches deep, and the band 
driven through it. 

Dosage. 

The relative dose of medicine given to a sheep 
is about one-fourth to one-sixth as much as given 
to a horse, and about four times the dose indi- 
cated for a human. The dose, however, varies 



78 SHEEP DISEASES. t 

greatly with the circumstances, drugs being often 
indicated in very large quantities; e. g., antidotes 
for poisoning, well diluted with water or oil. 

It is well to remember that a teaspoon holds 
one dram, or one-fourth of a tablespoonful. 

A tablespoon is nearly equivalent to one-half, 
ounce. 

A common tumbler contains about eight ounces, 
or one-half pint. 

A common tea-cup will hold about eight ounces ; 
although most cups carried in sheep camps hold 
nearly a pint, as they are more for service than 
for style. 

Depending on the age of the lamb, from one- 
third to one-half the size of the dose given sheep 
can be administered. 

A Table of Frequently Used Drugs. 

No complete table of drugs used in sheep prac- 
tice can be given, because there are no two local- 
ities with exactly the same disorders. The veter- 
inarian will soon become familiar with the ail- 
ments in his immediate vicinity and use the drugs 
indicated. 

The following table is an outline of the drugs 
generally used, and the safe, but active dosage 
appended: 

Drug Dose for sheep 

Acaciae mucilago 1< s ; 

Acetanilidum 3i 

Aconiti, tinctura m. xx 

Alcohol Q- s. 

Alumini sulphas gr. xx 

Atropinae sulphas gr. 1/20 



* 



MEDICINES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 79 



Drug Dose for sheep 

Balsamum Peruvianum q. s. 

Belladonnae rad. Flext m. xx 

Bismuthum subnitras gr. xx 

Boricum, acidum q. s. 

Camphorae, spiritus Sss 

Cannabis Ind. Flext 3ss 

Chloral 3ii 

Carbo ligni q. s. 

Creosotum, Beechwood m. ii 

Cupri sulphas q. s. 

Digitalis, Flext m. v 

Dioscorea, Flext 3ii 

Ergotae, Flext 3i 

Ether q. s. 

Eucalypti, oleum 3ss 

Formaldehydi, Liq 3i 

Gentianae, Flext 3ss 

Glycerinum q. s. 

Gasolin q. s. 

Hydrargarium chloridiun mite 3ss 

Hydrogenii dioxidi aqua q. s. 

Iodi, tinctura q. s. 

Lini, oleum Sviii 

Magnesii sulphas 3vi 

Nitrosi, spiritus etheris 3ss 

Nucis vom. Flext m. x 

Olivae, oleum q. s. 

Opii tinctura 3i 

Phytolaccae, Flext 3i 

Piperitae Menthae Oleum m. x 

Potassi permanganas gr. xx 

Plumbi acetas q. s. 

Potassii iodi gr. xx 

Potassi Arsenitis, Liq m. xx 

Petrolatum q. s. 

Rhamni Purshianae Flext 3i 

Rhei, Tinctura aromatica 3i 

Ricini, oleum 3iv 

Santoninum 3i 

Saponis, lin q. s. 

Sodium chloridi q. s. 



80 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Drug Dose for sheep 

Sodium hyposulphite 3ss 

Sodium bicarbonas q. s. 

Spiritus vini gallici 3ss 

Sulphur subliatum q. s. 

Terehinthinae oleum 3ss 

Tinctura Ferri Chlorid q. s. 

Zinci sulphas q. s. 

Zingerberis, tinctura 3i 

Of the drugs mentioned above, perhaps a dozen 
are commonly used. Due to the delicate taste of 
the sheep none can be given on the feed. All must 
be given as a drench or an electuary. 

Preventive medication, such as dipping or re- 
moving animals from parasite — or poison — in- 
fested ranges, is far more successful and satis- 
factory than constant drugging. 

Emergency Medicine Case for the Range. 

Before trailing the sheep to the summer range 
it is well to provide the herders with an emergency 
medicine chest, and instruct them how to use each 
drug. Hints can be given how to treat a saddle- 
horse or a valuable dog as well as sheep out of 
the case. Less fatalities among the men them- 
selves would occur if the sheep owners would 
secure a competent physician to give the herders 
a little talk on " first aid." 

For the common emergencies among animals, 
the following list will be found useful: 

One dozen two-inch gauze bandages. 

Four one-quarter pound rolls absorbent cotton. 

One roll inch zinc oxide adhesive plaster. 

Ten pounds sulphur. 

Ten pounds Epsom salt. 

One gallon raw linseed oil. 



MEDICINES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 81 

One quart castor oil. 
One quart glycerin. 
One pint hydrogen peroxid. 
One pint tincture iodin. 
One pint spirit of camphor. 
One pint sweet spirit nitre. 
One pint tincture of iron. 
One quart olive oil. 
One gallon turpentine. 
One gallon pine tar. 

Two hundred, twenty-grain powders containing equal 
parts potassium permanganate and powdered alum. 
Several two-ounce dose syringes. 

Disinfectants. 

As prevention of disease and parasites is of the 
utmost importance in sheep industry, a knowledge 
of disinfectants and their germicidal powers is 
necessary. 

On the western range, very little disinfecting is 
necessary except in infected corrals, shearing or 
lambing sheds, or feeding lots. 

Official disinfectants as designated by the 
Bureau of Animal Industry mention the following: 

1. A five per cent solution carbolic acid. Due 
to its present high price this is very little used. 

2. A three per cent solution of liquor cresolis 
compound. This is a coal tar product. Many 
other well known coal tar dips such as Kreso, 
Sanax, Lysol, Chloro-naphtholeum and the like, 
which are merely trade names of the different man- 
ufacturers, are good and efficient. 

3. A 1 to 1,000 solution mercuric chlorid. On 
account of its dangerous properties to animals 
from licking it, this is not much used for sheep. 

4. Chlorid of lime, one pound to one and one- 
half gallons of water. 

5. Formalin, one quart to five gallons of water. 



82 SHEEP DISEASES. 

For disinfecting a shed or corral, perhaps as 
good as any disinfectant is lime and sulphur dip. 
Put a half bushel of unslaked lime in a fifty- 
gallon barrel, and add enough water to make a 
smooth paste. Add about twenty gallons of water, 
stirring constantly, and then add the coal tar dip, 
about three gallons will be sufficient, and fill the 
barrel up with water. Allow to stand over night, 
and by not agitating the solution, one can use a 
spray pump with little annoyance from clogging. 

The most common western method is to dilute 
the sediment from the lime and sulphur dips, and 
throw it around over the corral or pens. 

For detailed formulae of the various dips, see 
Section on Parasites, page 161. 

Blue vitriol and common lime are the solutions 
most used in foot rot on the range. 

The Value of Postmortem Examinations. 

Perhaps in no species of animal is an autopsy 
more valuable than in sheep. To ascertain with 
reasonable certainty the exact trouble is more than 
half the battle, and preventive measures can be 
taken to eradicate the malady, if at all practicable. 

Sheep that have been dead more than twenty- 
four hours are not good subjects for postmortem 
examination. The putrefactive organisms and gas 
have caused such changes that one cannot tell 
anything about the original ailment. 

Examine the head for grub; the trachea for lung- 
worms; the fourth stomach for stomach worms; 
the liver for liver flukes; the skin for scab mites 
or ticks, and every organ for pathological lesions. 



MEDICINES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION. 83 

Poisons usually but not always cause a violent 
inflammation of the intestines. 

Sometimes several or more autopsies are neces- 
sary to arrive at a correct diagnosis, and even 
then it is often the safer method to make a 
guarded one. 



SECTION V. 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 

Anthrax. 

Splenic fever; wool sorter's disease; splenic 
apoplexy; malignant pustule; anthracemia; my- 
cosis intestinalis. 

Cause: The Bacillus anthracis, a square-end 
rod-shaped germ; stains by Gram's method. Re- 
mains virulent for years. 

Symptoms: In sheep the symptoms are very 
acute. Loss of appetite ; 
rise in temperature ; 
edematous swellings ap- 
pear on flanks, and the 
skin may be covered 
with an erysipelas-like 
eruption. Dark, bloody, 
frothy m ucus exudes 
from the nostrils, mouth 
and anus. Young ani- 
mals are more suscep- 
tible to the disease than 
older ones, but the mor- 
tality — even in adults — 
is very great. 

The diagnosis is determined by the postmortem 
findings; the "blackberry spleen" differentiating 
it from blackleg. 

The usual channel of infection is throuah the 




Bacillus Axthr.uls. 
Fresh Sheep Blood Stained 
with Diluted Fuchsin Solu- 
tion. 

(From Hutyra and Marek. ) 



Texts consulted : 

Hutyra and Marek's Pathology and Therapeutics of the 
Diseases of Domestic Animals. 

Friedberger and Prohner's Veterinary Pathology. 

Moore's Pathology and Differential Diagnosis of the Infectious 
Diseases of Animals. 

84 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 85 

digestive system; the germs entering the blood 
and lymph streams from this source. Death ensues 
in from several hours to two days. The imme- 
diate cause of death is suffocation. The history 
of the disease in a given attack or locality is help- 
ful in making a diagnosis, since where previous 
outbreaks have occurred, one will be constantly 
on the lookout. However, in any serious epizootic 
among sheep, a clinical diagnosis confirmed by a 
bacteriological examination is the only safe one. 
Treatment: First, accurate diagnosis; second, 
rigid quarantine; third, slaughter of diseased ani- 
mals and burning the carcasses; fourth, immuni- 
zation and a change of range. The very best 
thing one can do in case of the appearance of this 
disease is to notify the nearest Federal or state 
live stock sanitary official by wire. Veterinarians 
must disabuse themselves of the belief that it is a 
reflection upon their professional ability and skill 
to call upon state or Federal officials in outbreaks 
of disease that are suspected of being highly con- 
tagious and susceptible of control only by con- 
certed public action. It demonstrates a better 
ability to take this precaution a hundred times 
where later developments reveal it unnecessary 
than to fail to take it one time and thus permit 
the unnecessary infection of wide areas and as a 
consequence great loss perhaps for years to come. 

2. Malignant Edema. 
Edema malignum; septicemia gangraenosa. 
Cause: The anaerobic "Bacillus edematis ma- 
liffni." 



86 



SHEEP DISEASES. 




This is a wound infection disease often fol- 
lowing castration. The germ greatly resembles 
the causative factor of anthrax, except that it has 
rounded ends. Like tetanus, it grows only in 
oxygen free cultures. 

Symptoms: In general the clinical picture is 
much the same as that of blackleg. Usually the 

sheep is found dead, 
and others may show 
vague symptoms indi- 
cating that something 
is not exactly "right." 
The temperature is very 
high at the onset of the 
disease and a diarrhea 
is usually present. Crep- 
itating swellings similar 
to those seen in blackleg 
can be felt on the body; the respirations are la- 
bored; the pulse is wiry; and the visible mucous 
membranes cyanotic. 

Due to the extreme difficulty in making a clin- 
ical diagnosis, a bacteriological examination 
should be made. 

Treatment: This is a rare disease among sheep, 
and is very seldom seen on the range. It is usually 
found around the barn-yard and in low, damp 
places. No successful treatment has so far been 
found. 

Prevention consists in moving the sheep to an- 
other range, preferably to a higher one. It is a 
quarantinable disease and should be reported to 
state officials immediately. 



Bacillus of Blackleg. 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DIS E A SES. 87 

3. Blackleg. 

Black quarter; quarter ill; symptomatic an- 
thrax; gangrenous emphysema. 

Cause: The Bacterium Chauveaui, a rather 
thick, straight germ, with rounded ends. It is a 
very difficult organism to eradicate, as the spores 
may live for years. 

Symptoms: Only the greatest of care will enable 
one to differentiate this disease from certain forms 
of poisoning in sheep. 

On the range the course of the malady is very 
rapid. When first seen, the animal has difficulty 
in walking; its abdomen is distended from bloat- 
ing; a frothy discharge is seen oozing from the 
mouth, and the temperature is very high. The 
herder immediately diagnoses the trouble as pois- 
oning, and many more die before expert assistance 
is sent for. When local symptoms are pronounced, 
such as crepitating swellings on the hindquarters, 
the diagnosis is comparatively easy to make. 

Treatment: Purely preventive. This is done by 
immunization and removal to another range. 
Blackleg is rather rare among sheep, but one out- 
break that came to the author's notice caused the 
death of over four hundred sheep before expert 
assistance was even called. Every known anti- 
dote for poisoning had been used to no avail. 

4. Bradsot. 
Braxy; gastromycosis ovis. 

This is a disease much resembling blackleg. It 
is very destructive to sheep in Norway, Iceland, 



88 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Denmark, Germany and Scotland. It is seen in 
the lowlands along the coast, and when sheep are 
brought down from the mountain pastures and 
driven into infected ground, the loss is very great. 
It is not found in this country. 

5. Hemorrhagic Septicemia. 

Catarrhal fever of sheep; septicemia hemor- 
rhagica ovum. 

Cause: The Bacillus ovisepticus, a short, non- 
motile non-spore-forming germ, which will not 
stain by Gram's method, but stains with the anilin 
dyes. 

Symptoms: The animal is dull; listless; the 
respirations are labored, and there is great thirst. 
The temperature is high, and there are present 
some muscular tremors. The latter symptom 
makes the disease very difficult to diagnose from 
some forms of poisoning. The high temperature 
simulates blackleg, and a very careful examination 
must be made to arrive at a conclusive opinion. A 
bacteriological examination should be made to 
confirm the diagnosis. 

Fortunately, in this country hemorrhagic sep- 
ticemia is a rare disease in sheep, but it is common 
in Europe and Argentine. 

Treatment: Nothing practical has been found 
but prevention by removal to another range. Im- 
munization has been tried, and the results have 
been fairly satisfactory. 

6. Rinderpest. 

While this is commonlv a disease of cattle and 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 89 

not found in this country, it lias caused immense 
losses in other parts of the world. Southern 
Europe, Asia, the Philippines and Africa have 
been devastated time after time with this deadly 
plague. In some instances large losses of sheep 
and goats have occurred. 

This disease became such a widespread epizootic 
that the first veterinary colleges were established 
to combat this malady alone. 

Cause: Unknown. 

Symptoms: Experienced veterinarians declare 
it greatly resembles hemorrhagic septicemia. 

Treatment: As yet, no successful treatment has 
been devised. Quarantine and slaughter are the 
two methods used to combat it. Immunization 
with varying results have been tried. 

7. Sheep Pox. 

Variola ovina; pox. 

Cause: Unknown. The purulent matter found 
in the cutaneous pustules seems to convey the 
virus. 

Symptoms: The prodromal symptoms are a loss 
of appetite; high temperature, and, later on the 
bare or hairy parts of the skin, small papules 
appear. These are covered with scabs, and in- 
tense itching follows. The disease is not a fatal 
one, but the irritation causes a great loss of weight 
in affected animals. It is not a common disease 
in this country. 

Treatment: As one attack confers immunity, 
light outbreaks are welcomed in the countries 



90 SHEEP DISEASES. 

where the disease is enzootic. Immunization has 
been tried, but with very little success. Hygienic 
care sems to be the best line of treatment. Dif- 
ferentiating the disease from common scab is the 
first problem. 

8. Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 

Aphthae epizooticae. 

Probably no disease appearing among cloven- 
footed animals in this country has been so thor- 
oughly discussed in the past several years as this 
one, consequently a mere summary is given here. 

Cause: Unknown. The clear serum-like con- 
tents of the vesicles and the blood carry the con- 
tagium. 

Symptoms: As this is an acute febrile disease, 
the first symptom noted is a high temperature 
usually accompanied by a slight lameness. The 
foot becomes swollen, feverish, and small vesicles 
which later become pustules are found in the in- 
terdigital space. Upon squeezing this, thick pus 
comes out in a spiral, worm-like shape, hence the 
colloquial term, "hoof-worm." Great care must 
be used to differentiate it from foot rot. Compli- 
cations, such as lack of appetite, abortion in preg- 
nant ewes, and vesicles on other parts of the body, 
as in the mouth and sometimes on the teats, may 
help one to exclude any form of rot. In the 
latter disease the hoof becomes gangrenous, and 
to one who has seen both, the difference between 
these two disorders is very noticeable. The his- 
tory of an attack is perhaps more important in 
arriving at a diagnosis than are the lesions. The 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 1)1 

fact that all kinds of cloven hoofed animals on 
the premises are affected; the low percentage of 
the susceptible animals that succumb; the lame- 
ness in the hogs; the "smacking" in cattle; the 
immunity of horses and mules; the mortality of 
the sucklings, etc., must be taken into considera- 
tion in differentiating this disease. Avoid a pub- 
lic announcement of the presence of this disease 
until the diagnosis is positive; but take no chances 
of permitting the spread of the disease through a 
failure to notify the proper authorities in every 
suspected case. The instructions issued by the 
Bureau of Animal Industry at Washington on this 
matter are as follows: "In all cases of foot-and- 
mouth disease, even where there are only slight 
grounds for suspicion of a new outbreak, the mat- 
ter should be reported immediately by wire to the 
Chief of the Bureau; a detailed written report 
should be forwarded as soon as possible. This 
report should include a description of the lesions 
and their location, the number of susceptible ani- 
mals of each species on the farm, the number of 
animals of each species affected, the temperature 
record, and the history, including the evidence, if 
any, of contagion." Heed them. 

Treatment: This is a subject open to discussion. 
It has been proved that quarantine and slaughter, 
except perhaps in very high priced stock, is the 
only safe and sane method to combat the disease 
where there is a probability of its eradication. 
The course of the disease is from ten days to two 
weeks; it is but slightly fatal, except in some out- 
breaks where it assumes a malignant form and in 



92 SHEEP DISEASES. 

young animals, but its effect on weight and milk 
or wool causes a great economic loss. 

It is a quarantinable disease, and as above stated 
one should waste no time in notifying the proper 
authorities of suspected cases. The failure to do 
this in the 1914 outbreak resulted in the expendi- 
ture of five million dollars by the Federal and vari- 
ous state governments in combatting this disease 
and a loss to the livestock industry from quaran- 
tines and interference with the marketing of live- 
stock, probably four times as great. Twenty-five 
millions for neglect of this simple precaution! 

9. Tetanus. 

Lockjaw; trismus. 

Cause: The Bacillus tetani, an anaerobic or- 
ganism. It is a slender, spore-forming germ and 
has been called the "pin bacillus" and the "tennis 
racket bacillus." 

Symptoms: Being a wound-infection disease, it 
usually appears among lambs after castration, 
docking, ear marking, or in rare cases, from um- 
bilical infection. There have been cases where 
ewes have been infected after labor. 

In young lambs, about a day or so after infection, 
they become dull, lose their appetite, and as the 
disease progresses, assume a stiff "saw-buck" 
attitude. The muscles in the neck become rigid, 
which causes an inability to swallow, and subse- 
quent bloating is noticeable. Sometimes a profuse 
diarrhea occurs. Death occurs from suffocation. 

This disease is quite apt to run a subacute course 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 93 

in lambs infected from castration or docking 
wounds. They may be unable to put the nose to 
the ground to drink from a pail or even to nurse 
for as much as two weeks and yet retain their 
ability to swallow milk given as a drench. During 
most of this time, they may be able to walk with- 
out much difficulty and even to run rather swiftly 
in a straight line, and yet when down be unable 
to rise without help. These cases when down lie 
on the side with the legs extended stiffly, hori- 
zontally. In turning when running, they are al- 
most sure to fall. If they fall in the warm sun- 
shine and lie there for a time, a very high tem- 
perature up to 108 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit 
speedily ensues. Recovery is rare. 

Once this affection appears in a flock it is apt 
to affect as high as twenty-five per cent of the 
lambs having access to the infected quarters after 
castration. 

Treatment: After the characteristic symptoms 
appear among sheep, very little can be done. Since 
the infection occurs only among flocks having 
access to a much used corral, the entire band 
should be moved to other quarters. Immuniza- 
tion is practical only in high priced animals. 

10. Rabies. 

Hydrophobia ; lyssa; mad-dog; canine rage. 

This disease has assumed importance in the 
West due to outbreaks among dogs, coyotes and 
other predatory animals on the range. Much loss 
has occurred among sheep from this disease, and 
flic zone of infection is constantly increasing. 



94 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Cause: Unknown. The virus is conveyed by 
the saliva. Negri bodies found in the brain con- 
firm the clinical diagnosis. Remarkable success 
in diagnosing this disease from a blood examina- 
tion has been reported recently. 

Symptoms: In sheep, the period of incubation 
is unknown; there are practically no prodromal 
symptoms. In ewes, stamping the feet and a de- 
sire to butt everything in sight is noticeable. In 
bucks, the sexual desire is greatly increased. This 
stage of disease persists for nearly a week, and 
the animal finally drops to the ground from ex- 
haustion and dies with paralysis. 

The diagnosis can usually be made from the 
history of the case, together with the character- 
istic symptoms of the affected animals. Poison- 
ing is often confused with this ailment by the 
herders, and in every doubtful case a microscopi- 
cal examination of the brain should be made, as 
the autopsy reveals little or nothing. 

Treatment: Infected animals should be de- 
stroyed and the carcasses burned. Extra precau- 
tions should be observed in watching the actions 
of the sheep dogs. The Pasteur treatment should 
immediately be administered to any person bitten 
by even a suspicious-acting dog. The expense of 
the Pasteur treatment is too great to be practical 
for ordinary sheep, although valuable ones may 
be given the Pasteur treatment. Dr. Zell has re- 
ported a successful inexpensive prophylactic 
treatment that he has used to some extent in an 
experimental way. 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 95 

11. Tuberculosis. 

Pearly disease; consumption ; grapes; "white 
plague." 

While sheep are not very susceptible to this 
disease, government reports for last year show 
over half-a-million dollars' worth of mutton con- 
demned for this disease alone. 

Cause: The Bacterium tuberculosis, a very 
small organism found chiefly in the lymph system. 
Because of the very extensive literature on this 
subject only a brief summary is herewith given. 

Symptoms: A tuberculous sheep exhibits very 
few symptoms; a lack of thrift being the most 
noticeable. The visible mucous membranes are 
pale, while the wool is harsh and dry. The clin- 
ical picture greatly resembles infection by stomach 
worms, and only an autopsy will determine the 
exact trouble. In suspected cases the intra-dermal 
tuberculin test may be resorted to. 

Treatment: At present, hopeless. An entire 
change of quarters and breeding stock is advised. 

12. Ovine Caseous Lymphadenitis. 

Pseudo-tuberculosis. 

Cause: The Bacillus pseudotuberculosis ovis, a 
very delicate, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped 
germ. It stains with anilin dyes and by Gram's 
method. 

Symptoms: There are no marked symptoms, 
and the disease is not discovered until after death. 
Many cases are reported by government inspectors 



96 SHEEP DISEASES. 

at packing houses; the malady seems widespread 
over the West. 

The lymphatic glands become caseous, and in 
individuals where great enlargement has taken 
place, emaciation is present. 

Treatment: Nothing but prevention is known 
at the present time. 

13. Actinomycosis. 

Lumpy jaw; big jaw; wooden tongue. 

Cause: Actinomyces bovis, or ray fungus. 

Symptoms: Inability to chew food is the first 
symptom noted, followed by a swelling on the jaw. 
The tongue may be affected, and the animal suc- 
cumb to starvation. It is a very rare disease in 
sheep, but cases are on record. 

Treatment: None practical on the ranges. 
Slaughter under government inspection is perhaps 
the best method. Where but a single or at most 
but a few individuals are affected on a small farm 
the administration of potassium iodid may be re- 
sorted to. 

14. Glanders. 

Sheep have never been known to become in- 
fected through natural sources. This disease was 
formerly confused with hemorrhagic septicemia. 

15. Contagious Abortion. 

Another disease seldom found in sheep. Usually 
the form of abortion occurring among ewes is due 
to toxic ingredients found in the food, or to ex- 
posure and bruises. 



ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 97 

16. Piroplasmosis. 

Carceag; ictero-hematuria; malarial catarrhal 
fever. 

A disease not found in this country, but existing 
principally in the Balkan states. 

Cause: Piroplasma ovis, resembling- in shape 
the causative factor of Texas fever in cattle. 

Symptoms: High temperature; loss of appetite, 
and bloody urine. 

Treatment: Wholly preventive. 

17. Foot Rot. 
Lip-and-leg ulceration. 

Two forms of foot rot are recognized on the 
western range. One is non-contagious, and is due 
entirely to wet weather and standing in mud which 
softens the hoof and produces a condition prac- 
tically the same as scratches in horses. 

The second type of foot rot is caused by the 
Bacillus neerophorus, which, when affecting the 
mouth at the same time, is called "lip-and-leg 
ulceration," and in some stages might be mis- 
taken for foot-and-mouth disease by the inexpe- 
rienced. 

Symptoms: The contagious form exhibits very 
marked symptoms. The affected sheep limps; 
swollen areas are found around the coronary band, 
with a separation of the hoof, and little gangren- 
ous spots having a very putrid odor occur around 
the interdigital canal ; sometimes the infection ex- 
tends to the eyes and nose and, in females, to the 
genital organs. 



98 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: Driving the band through a trough 
containing several inches of copper sulphate solu- 
tion — one pound to a gallon of water — usually 
results in improvement. The worst infected feet 
should be trimmed with a sharp knife before treat- 
ing. Pure Balsam of Peru is an excellent local 
application where there is much gangrene. 

18. Septicemia. 

Blood poisoning; pyemia. 

This is a term used when invading organisms 
of the pus or coli communis type enter the cir- 
culatory system, and cause such specific diseases 
as navel-ill in the lamb (page 133) or septic me- 
tritis (page 142) in the ewe, which see. 



SECTION VI. 

DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 

1. Anemia. 

Acute anemia may be caused by some form of 
traumatism, such as may result in a severed blood 
vessel; or it may be caused by epistaxis or phle- 
botomy. 

Chronic anemia is usually the result of internal 
parasites, such as stomach worms; external para- 
sites, as the scab mites, or the ingestion of large 
quantities of marshy, watery food. Extensive 
feeding of beets, turnips or other foods deficient 
in proteids may cause this condition. 

Anemia is primarily a symptom of some dis- 
order. 

Symptoms: The manifestations of this ailment 
are very pronounced in sheep. The skin, instead 
of being of a pinkish hue, is a paper-like white. 
Later, the animal becomes dull, loses its appetite, 
becomes weak, is not able to stand up, and death 
from suffocation ends the clinical picture. 

Treatment: This consists in removing the ex- 
citing cause, be it parasites, exposure, or lack of 
exercise and supplying good nourishing food. 
Some form of iron should be fed the affected 
animals ad lib. 



99 



100 SHEEP DISEASES. 

2. Red Water. 

Sanguineous ascites. 

This ailment is due to feeding frosty turnips or 
other watery roots that have been frozen. 

Symptoms: In the morning, upon going out to 
feed the animals, several sheep will be found to 
have no appetite. The breathing will be labored, 
and considerable bloat is present. A swelling is 
often noticed under the lower jaw and the under 
side of the neck. Constipation is followed by a 
profuse diarrhea. The clinical picture greatly re- 
sembles poisoning. 

Treatment: The chances for recovery depend 
on how long the disorder has been present. If 
the animal is anemic, young and delicate, the pros- 
pects for successful treatment are not good. A 
complete change of quarters, food and water is 
recommended. The following may be tried: 

Fer. chlorid ,5i 

Oleum lini q. s. ad 5viii 

M. Sig. Give tablespoonful once daily. 

3. Pining. 

This disease is not found in this country. It 
occurs in England, where many plants are found 
that have a tendency to constipate. The onset of 
this disease is very insidious; it runs a course of 
from a week to a month and ends fatally. 

Symptoms: The wool becomes harsh; the eyes 
dull; the mucous membranes pale, and towards 



DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 101 

the end, the sheep lies down a great deal. Finally, 
it becomes too weak to get np, and dies from inani- 
tion. 

Treatment: The only treatment known to be 
of value is a change of range, to prevent an ex- 
tension of the disease. It is possible also that 
animals in incipient stages of the disease may be 
saved by this means. 



SECTION VII. 

DISEASES OF METABOLISM. 

1. Obesity. 

This is a rather rare disease among sheep; al- 
ways secondary to some other trouble. Cases of 
non-pathological obesity will be eagerly purchased 
by the butcher. 

2. Rachitis. 
Rickets. 

This disease is due to a deficiency of lime salts, 
occurring almost exclusively among lambs. 

Symptoms: The animal becomes delicate and 
does not thrive. The legs become crooked and 
pliable, and the "bow-legs" in front arc very 
noticeable. 

Treatment: Supply the necessary bone-build- 
ing mineral salts. The following is excellent for 
lambs: 

Syr. lactophosphate Sviii 

Cod-liver oil ?xvi 

M. Sig. One ounce daily with dose syringe. 

If the patient is a suckling, the ewe can be given 
lime-containing foods and the calcium phosphate 
mixed with molasses and given as an electuary. 

3. Wool Eating. 

This is more of a habit among sheep than a dis- 
ease. Usually when a band of sheep are kept in 

102 



DISEASES OF METABOLISM. L03 

close quarters, one or two may become warm and 
itchy and bite their wool. This leads to more 
biting and others imitate it. A few animals may 
die from ingesting too much wool, which form 
balls in their intestines, causing an obstruction. 
Others seem not to be affected in any way what- 
ever. 

Treatment: This consists in removing the wool- 
eaters from the rest of the flock, and giving each 
one a hypodermic injection of one-tenth grain 
apomorphin once daily for three or four days. 

4. Diabetes. 

This is a very rare affection of sheep ; the cause 
is not known. It has been classed variously as a 
disease of the kidneys, liver and of the blood. 

Diabetes insipidus is a condition whereby large 
quantities of urine, with no excess of sugar, are 
voided. 

Diabetes mellitus indicates that large quantities 
of sugar are being passed. 

Treatment: Slaughter under government super- 
vision, with a change of diet for the apparently 
healthy members of the flock. 



SECTION VIII. 

DISEASES OF THE URINARY 
ORGANS. 

1. Hematuria. 

Red corpuscles in the urine, causing the latter 
to assume a reddish color, is a condition often fol- 
lowing the ingestion of frozen or poisonous forage, 
severe injuries to the abdomen, and renal calculi. 

Treatment: Is purely symptomatic. Clean food, 
with hygienic care, usually prevents the trouble 
from extending to other members of the band. 

2. Uremia. 

Uremia is a condition in which the solid con- 
stituents of the urine are retained in the blood 
circulation. 

The exciting cause may be a retention of the 
urine in the bladder, caused by urinary calculi,, 
or a paralysis of the latter, due to some form of 
poisoning. 

Symptoms: It is very difficult to differentiate 
from poisoning, or abdominal injuries, until one 
can detect the urinous respiration. After a period 
of intense pain, stupor and paralysis ensue and 
the animal dies in a comatose condition. 

Treatment: There is no successful treatment, 
and immediate slaughter should be advised. 

104 



DISEASES OF THE URINARY GROANS. 105 

3. Nephritis. 

Inflammation of the kidneys; renal inflamma- 
tion. 

This is a secondary condition, following the in- 
vasion of parasites; infectious diseases; injuries; 
exposure to cold and rain, and poisonings. 

The symptoms are mainly associated with the 
primary disorder, and as urinary analyses are im- 
practical in routine work with sheep, very little 
can be done. 

The treatment is symptomatic and not very suc- 
cessful. 

4. Rare and Unimportant Diseases of the Urinary 
Organs. 

Occasionally diseases of the urinary tract other 
than those mentioned in the foregoing are found 
in sheep. Usually they are not recognized until 
after death. Among these may be mentioned cys- 
tic kidneys, renal calculi, cystitis, and tape worm 
cysts — the Eehinococeus polymorphous. 



SECTION IX. 

DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY 
ORGANS. 

1. Pericarditis. 

Due to the fact that the sheep is such a dainty 
eater we find no traumatic pericarditis such as 



"Stunts" with the Lariat. 
A sheep camp is often located 50 to 200 
or even 300 miles from the home ranch and 
the camp tender's life is a monotonous one. 

occurs in the bovine. Other forms arc almost un- 
known. 

2. Dropsy of the Pericardium. 

When this occurs it is usually a secondary affec- 
tion due to poisonings, parasites in the liver, or 
chronic inflammation of the kidneys. 

106 



DISEASES OF THE CIRCULATORY ORGANS. 107 

3. Hypertrophy of the Heart. 

This is a secondary ailment, usually resulting 
from the effects of parasites in the blood stream. 

4. Valvular Diseases. 

This is co-incident with, and caused by the same 
pathological conditions as hypertrophy of the 
heart. 




Counting Six Thousand. 
Sheep practice in the range country does not take the 
veterinarian over paved streets or even surveyed roads. 

These diseases of the heart in sheep are rarely, 
if ever, diagnosed during life. The chief object 
in mentioning them is to enable the practitioner 
to guard against invasions of similar nature in 
the apparently healthy members of the flock. 



SECTION X. 

DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY 
ORGANS. 

1. Epistaxis. 

Hemorrhage from the nose; nasal hemorrhage; 
bleeding from the nose. 

This is merely a secondary condition, following 
injuries to the head and nose, parasites, and acute 
infections diseases. 

Treatment: When the blood shows no sign of 
coagulation tampons of absorbent cotton, satu- 
rated with tincture of iron, tannic acid, alum, tur- 
pentine or adrenalin chlorid, charcoal or even 
earth, may be applied. 

2. Nasal Catarrh. 

Snuffles. 

This ailment ordinarily results from exposure 
to the cold or rain; dipping or shearing too early, 
or from an invasion of parasites. The symptoms 
are obvious. 

Treatment: Mainly consists in removing the 
exciting cause. Pine tar may be smeared over the 
nostrils, and the animal given clean, dry quarters. 
The following given for several days may abort an 
attack of pneumonia as a complication: 

108 



DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 109 

R 

Creosoti, Beech 3ii 

Spts. camphorae ,?i 

01. lini q. s. ad Sviii 

M. Sig. Give one tablespoonful three times a day. 

3. Non-Parasitic Bronchitis. 

Frequently a sequela of nasal catarrh. 

Cause, symptoms and treatment practically the 
same as for nasal catarrh. 

Verminous bronchitis, caused by lung worms, 
is considered in the section on parasites. 

4. Japp Disease. 

This is a disease not found in this country, but 
common in parts of Germany. It is characterized 
by an intense bronchitis. No cause nor cure has 
yet been discovered. 

5. Pneumonia. 

Inflammation of the lungs; lung fever; pneu- 
monitis; and congestion of the lungs. 

Three types are recognized in sheep: 

a. Parasitic — due to lung worms. 

b. Traumatic — caused by drenching. 

c. Common congestion of the lungs, caused by 
exposure; chills; wet weather, and as sequela fol- 
lowing nasal catarrh or bronchitis. 

Symptoms: These are characteristic, but very 
difficult to differentiate from acute poisoning, at 
the onset. Cough; labored respiration; loss of ap- 
petite; congestion of the visible mucous mem- 
branes, followed by weakness, are present, and 
often followed by death. In large bands, as many 



110 SHEEP DISEASES. 

as fifteen hundred sheep have succumbed within 
a few days, during a season of wet or cold weather. 

Treatment: In no disease are hygienic measures 
more important, and when these cannot be given, 
attempts at medical treatment are useless. Cam- 
phor and creosote, such as has been suggested for 
nasal catarrh, or spartein sulphate, given in five- 
grain doses, hypodermatically, may be given. 

6. Pleurisy. 

■Inflammation of the pleura; pleuritis. 

This affection is a common sequela of pneu- 
monia. 

Symptoms: The manifestations are quite char- 
acteristic. The animal grunts as it breathes, and 
the flanks are more used than the chest. There is 
a loss of appetite and suspension of rumination. 
On percussion, dull sounds are heard on the lower 
edge of the chest. 

Treatment: When this disease has become 
established, therapeutic measures are more or less 
useless. In valuable animals, fifteen grain doses 
of potassium iodid may be given three times a day. 
The prognosis is grave. 



SECTION XI. 

DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE 
SYSTEM. 

Disorders of the digestive system probably cause 
more losses than from all other sources combined. 
Errors in feeding, parasites, poisons, and preda- 
tory animals all take their toll of life in large 
numbers, but all fall far behind those ailments 
originating in the alimentation in the extent of 
loss occasioned the sheep industry. 

1. Stomatitis. 
See Section on Diseases of the Lamb (page 137) ; 
also Foot Rot (page 97), and Foot-and-Mouth 
Disease (page 90). 

2. Choke. 

Obstruction of the esophagus. 

This a rare condition found in sheep, but when 
it does occasionally occur from the lodgment of a 
sharp pointed piece of root in the esophagus, great 
excitement reigns among the sheep herders. They 
seem to think an animal breathes through its gul- 
let, and a few moments' delay will cause suffoca- 
tion, and death. 

Symptoms: The manifestations of this ailment 
are very pronounced. Labored breathing; sudden 
loss of appetite and rumination; bloating; normal 
temperature, and attempts to swallow, all differ- 
entiate the clinical picture from acute poisoning 
for which it may be mistaken at the onset. 

Ill 



112 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: If the obstruction can be felt in the 
neck, massage may be tried. An equine catheter 
may be used as a probang, and the obstruction 
dislodged by its steady pressure. A quarter grain 
pilocarpin administered hypodermically often 
gives relief within an hour or so. 

The great danger is from the bloating. The 
use of the trocar should not be neglected if at all 
indicated, for collapse in sheep occurs when least 
expected. Due to the heaviness of the fleece we 
often do not detect intense tympany in sheep until 
it is too late to save the animal. 

In case the obstruction proves stubborn and 
"watchful waiting" avails nothing, immediate 
slaughter may be advised. 

3. Bloat. 

Hoven; blasting; meteorism. 

This condition is a common one in the West; 
large numbers of sheep are lost annually from 
acute bloat. Any kind of forage may cause the 
trouble, especially after a rain. Wet alfalfa is 
particularly deadly. 

In the fall, after having been on the summer 
range, the sheep are trailed leisurely back over 
the rich farming sections to the "home ranch." 
Wheat or oats stubble is rented by the sheep man 
and the animals turned in. Hungry for grain, it 
is remarkable how much the animals can pick up 
in a few hours. If there is any alfalfa near and 
available, trouble may ensue, not only from bloat, 
but from founder. Quick action is required by 
the attending veterinarian, and the treatment 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 113 

heroic. The small dose teaching of text-books 
must be cast to the winds, and the medicines given 
in quantities that would cause an inexperienced 
veterinarian to shudder. 

Symptoms: One or more animals stand with a 
look of helpless pain; respirations are labored, and 
the abdomen distended in an ' ' apple-shape. ' ' Soon 
the animal staggers, tries to stand up, but drops 
to the ground and succumbs in a convulsion, the 
immediate cause of death being suffocation. 

Treatment: Thousands of "sure cures" for 
bloat have been recommended. If they are avail- 
able, it is suggested that turpentine, oil of eucalyp- 
tus, aromatic spirits of ammonia, formalin, fresh 
milk and coal oil be used. As this is a "first-aid 
emergency," one must think and act quickly, and 
be able to use what therapeutic agents are at hand. 

We will suppose a hundred head of sheep have 
had access to a "big feed," and the animals are 
not only bloated but foundered. Here we have 
a complicated condition — a double calamity — and 
our measures must be directed, first, to lessen the 
formation of gas, and next, to alleviate the intense 
congestion of blood in various parts. 

Two buckets of medicine are hastily mixed up, 
each containing two gallons or two hundred and 
fifty-six ounces, which will treat one hundred and 
twenty-eight head, giving each animal a two-ounce 
dose syringe full. 

In prescription "A" we figure on giving one 
drachm each of turpentine, oil of eucalyptus, aro- 
matic spirits of ammonia in enough raw linseed oil 



114 SHEEP DISEASES. 

to make two ounces. Consequently our prescrip- 
tion would read: 

r 

Spt. Amnion. Aro. 
01. eucalypti. 

Ol. Terebinth, aa gxvi 

01. lini q. s. ad Cong, ii 

M. f. sol. 
Sig. One two-ounce syringe full at once. Repeat in fifteen 
minutes in subacute cases. 

For the laminitis, the following can be given as 
soon as the bloat has subsided to such an extent 
that the animal seems to be somewhat improved. 

R 

Kali permangan. 

Alumen sulph. aa Bviii 

Aquae q. s. ad Cong, ii 

M. f. sol. 
Sig. One two-ounce dose syringe full an hour after first 
medicine has been given. 

By the use of three or four syringes and group- 
ing the help in pairs- — one to hold the animal, and 
the other to administer the medicine, a hundred 
head can be gone over in a few minutes. The 
main thing to impress on the ones who administer 
the medicine is to give the half-suffocated animal 
plenty of time to swallow the drench. 

In case the before mentioned drugs are not avail- 
able, with less success one may resort to ground 
ginger, milk, black pepper, or even whiskey, which 
is usually available in a sheep camp, although 
grudgingly supplied for this purpose. 

4. Impaction of the Rumen. 

This is a chronic bloat or a distension of the 
rumen caused by fermenting food of a solid nature. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 115 

Symptoms: Dullness; loss of appetite and ru- 
mination; doughy feeling in the flank, the rumen 
seeming to be of the consistency of a mass of 
dough. 

Treatment: Give one-quarter pound Epsom salt 
in a quart or so of lukewarm water, to which can 
be added several drains of aromatic spirits of 
ammonia or fluid extract ginger. The triple sul- 
phocarbolates are also useful in this condition 
where there is much gas. 

5. Grass Staggers. 
Fardel bound; drying up; staggers. 

Impaction of the third stomach (the omasum or 
manyplies) is a very fatal condition and treat- 
ment has proven to be of little value. Upon 
autopsy, the spaces between the leaves of this 
stomach will be found packed full of dried ma- 
terial, and the mucous membranes nearly black. 

Treatment: Large doses of salts, together with 
pilocarpin, may do some good and are worth try- 
ing, but the prognosis should be grave. When 
delirium is present, perhaps slaughter is the most 
humane thing that one can do. 

6. Constipation. 

Impaction; clog; tivist, wool balls. 

In adult sheep this often occurs from dry pas- 
ture and insufficiency of succulent food and water. 
Timothy hay will also cause this condition, even 
with plenty of salt and water. In lambs, wool 
balls is a frequent cause. 



116 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Symptoms: Loss of appetite; "humped up" 
appearance; attempts to defecate; colicky pains; 
and hard masses of feces in the rectum. 

Treatment: For a sheep of ordinary size, that 
is not too "far gone", one may attempt treatment. 
Four ounces Epsom salt dissolved in a quart of 
water, to which is added one-half ounce of fluid 
extract of dioscorea to prevent griping, may be 
given several times daily for several days. An 
enema, containing half an ounce of glycerin, is 
always useful. Laxative food, such as whole oats 
and bran, equal parts, should be given when the 
animal regains its appetite. Do not give too much 
treatment, or the animal may "die getting well." 

In suckling lambs, give the ewe a tablespoonful 
of sodium hyposulphite per day. The lamb may 
be given one or two ounces of castor oil, together 
with an enema. 

7. Colic. 

Stretch es ; b elly-ach e. 

In sheep this condition usually arises from eat- 
ing spoiled forage, frozen roots or mild poisons. 

Symptoms: The animal stretches out so far that 
it appears "sway-backed," hence the term, 
"stretches." It lies down and then gets up again, 
and appears to be in great pain. 

Treatment: In sheep, one-half ounce each of 
fluid extract dioscorea and sweet spirit of nitre 
given in a little water has been found to be useful. 
In cases of much fermentation, thirty grains of 
the sulphocarbolates, with a drachm of fluid ex- 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 117 

trad ginger, may be given. Turpentine, oil of 
peppermint, or any of the carminatives or sto- 
machics may be given. 

Lambs may be given one-half the above dosage. 
The ewe if suckling her young may be fed laxative 
food, and a tablespoonful of sodium hyposulphite 
per day. 

8. Diarrhea. 
The Skit or The Shite. 

In sheep three forms may be recognized : 

Sporadic or non-infectious diarrhea of the new- 
born lamb. 

Infectious diarrhea. Considered in the section 
in diseases of the lamb. 

Common dysentery of sheep. This is caused 
by spoiled food; exposure; lack of exercise, or the 
symptom of some acute poisoning or infectious 
disease. 

Treatment: Successful treatment is largely 
symptomatic. Immediate removal of the exciting 
cause is necessary. Twenty grains of subnitrate 
of bismuth given in a little condensed milk is good. 
Triple sulphocarbolates, salicylic acid, salol, castor 
oil, linseed oil, milk of bismuth all have their place, 
and many more drugs have been usefully em- 
ployed in this disorder. Hygienic care will do 
much to alleviate the trouble. 

9. Enteritis. 

Inflammation of the bowels. 

Four types of enteritis in sheep are recognized: 
Simple, or non-toxic enteritis. This type is 



118 SHEEP DISEASES. 

caused by chills; eating irritating food; foreign 
bodies or parasites in the intestinal tract. It is 
also a sequela of constipation or diarrhea. 

Croupous enteritis. This occurs from feeding 
too much chaffy food, such as "straw-stack and 
scenery" in the spring, following a hard winter. 
Dram doses of sodium bicarbonate several times 
daily, with nourishing foods, seem to do as much 
good as anything yet tried. 

Mycotic enteritis. This is the most common 
type among sheep. It is due to the ingestion of 
mouldy or fermenting foods. Thousands of sheep 
are lost yearly from this disease alone. The trou- 
ble is especially fatal among pregnant ewes, caus- 
ing abortion, and later, death from metritis. Often 
the most painstaking and careful examination is 
necessary to arrive at a correct diagnosis. 

The symptoms are sudden and severe. There 
is a complete loss of appetite; dullness; colicky 
pains; constipation, followed by a copious 
diarrhea, in which are long strings of slimy mucus. 
Paralysis completes the clinical picture, and death 
occurs in a stupor-like condition. The exact kind 
of poison or toxic ingredient in the food largely 
controls the symptoms, and sometimes they are 
very violent in character. The history of the case, 
and an autopsy on animals already dead, help one 
to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. 

The treatment in the main is unsatisfactory, for 
the ailment has usually progressed too far for me- 
dicinal aid to accomplish much. Stimulants, anti- 
ferments, and intestinal antiseptics, together with 
rectal injections, complete the treatment. Only in 



DISEASES OP THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 119 

case of large losses or fear of some contagious dis- 
ease is expert assistance ever called. 
Toxic enteritis. See section on Poisons. 

10. Piles. 

This condition is very rare in sheep. Complete 
withdrawal of food for several days, with appli- 
cations of belladonna ointment to the affected 
parts, is all that is required. 



SECTION XII. 

DISEASES OF THE LIVER. 

1. Icterus. 

Jaundice; yellows. 

This disease is frequently seen in packing 
houses. It is very rarely noticed until after 
slaughter, except in advanced cases. It is com- 
monly caused by the liver-fluke; for a complete 
consideration of this subject see the section on 
Parasitic Diseases of Sheep. Lead poisoning has 
also been known to cause this disorder. 

Treatment: If of parasitic origin, treatment is, 
of course, out of the question. Laxative food, com- 
bined with two-ounce doses sodium phosphate, 
may relieve simple cases. 

2. Hepatitis. 
Inflammation of the liver. 

When seen, it is usually the result of feeding 
on marshy land when the forage is too rich in 
proteid content. 

The only practical treatment consists in change 
of feed and plenty of exercise. 

3. Lupinosis. 

See Section on Poisons. 



120 



SECTION XIII. 

DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 

1. Ascites 

Dropsy; abdominal dropsy; hydrops ascites. 

This is a comparatively common ailment among 
sheep on the western range, and is not a disease in 
itself, but the visible symptom of some chronic 
affection of a vital organ of the body, such as the 
heart, the kidneys, the lungs, the mesenteric 
glands or the portal vein. 

It is the term applied to the collection of serous 
fluid found in the peritoneum not due to inflam- 
mation. 

Under the general head of ascites may be men- 
tioned hydremia, which is an increase of the fluid 
parts of the blood with a corresponding lessening 
of the solid constituents. This frequently is seen 
in parasitic invasions, or in chronic lead or zinc 
poisoning, and is known among sheepmen of cer- 
tain localities as ' ' dry rot. ' ' 

Symptoms: These are self-evident, but the fol- 
lowing facts should be kept in mind: 

a. Gradual enlargement, especially a bulging 
out posterior to the last pair of ribs. In shorn 
sheep this is very noticeable. 

b. Palpation of the lower Dart of the abdomen 
produces the typical dull sounds, indicating the 
presence of fluid, while the upper part is tense, 
light and gives a drum-like sound. 

121 



122 SHEEP DISEASES. 

c. Raising and lowering the animal gives forth 
a "swishing" sound, as the fluids roll back and 
forward. 

d. Holding the animal np by the hind legs 
accelerates breathing as the fluids roll forward 
and press on the diaphragm. Also, tipping the 
sheep to one side causes a distension on that side. 

e. Normal temperature. 

f. Rumination becomes lessened; the appetite 
is greatly diminished, and later, the animal be- 
comes dull, and mopes around. The visible mucous 
membranes become pale; the body emaciated, and 
the general verdict around the sheep camp is that 
the animal has the "rot." 

The important thing to remember is to differen- 
tiate this practically incurable, non-contagious dis- 
ease from: 

a. Pregnancy. No disturbance of the health. 

b. Peritonitis. In this condition there is pain, 
fever, with all its attendant disturbances of the 
general health. 

c. Obesity. This occurs usually in old, closely 
confined animals. Range sheep are seldom trou- 
bled with this malady. 

d. Paralysis of the bladder, or even rupture 
of that organ, due to urethral calculi of bucks and 
wethers. In this trouble there are found colickj^ 
pains, high temperature, odor of urine on the 
breath, followed by collapse and death. In this 
condition, at the first symptoms, great care must 
be taken to differentiate the troubles. 

e. Other rare but possible ailments, such as 
pyometra, abdominal cysts, hydrometra, abuor- 



DISEASES OP THE PERITONEUM. 123 

mally large tumors, cystic kidneys, degenerated 
kidneys, or mummified fetuses in ewes. In some 
cases large quantities of impacted feces have been 
known to cause the distension of the whole abdo- 
men. 

These have been gone into in detail to prevent 
the embarrassment consequent upon a superficial 
examination and a too hasty diagnosis. 

Treatment: In cases of long standing, slaughter 
is advised. If some pure-bred animal of high value 
contracts this disease during the show circuit, one 
may alleviate the trouble by giving daily twenty 
drops fluid extract pilocarpin, or one-half dram 
each of resublimed iodin and potassium iodid dis- 
solved in a couple ounces of water. 

2. Peritonitis. 

Only seen as a secondary condition following 
bruises, wound infections, enteritis or puerperal 
infection. The treatment should be symptomatic; 
the results are usually very unsatisfactory. 



SECTION XIV. 

DISEASES OF THE BRAIN 
AND CORD. 



Sheep are subject to many disorders of the brain 
and cord, but most of these are of parasitic or toxic 
origin, and very little can be done to alleviate the 
actual condition. We can, however, by careful 
autopsies, find the existing- cause, and take pre- 
ventive measures to preclude further extension of 
the trouble. 

1. Encephalitis. 

In flam mation of the brain. 

This is caused by the invasion of the "gid" 
parasites; fractures of the skull; exposure, and 
poisons. 

There is no known treatment that is satisfactory. 

2. Apoplexy. 

Under this heading may be grouped sun stroke, 
heat stroke, epilepsy, fits and convulsions. 

It is usually of parasitic origin, except in very 
warm weather and in animals that are abnormally 
fat. 

Except for the removal of the exciting causes, 
no treatment is practical. 

124 



DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND CORD. 125 

3. Paralysis. 

Frequently a sequela of acute infectious dis- 
eases, poisons, intestinal parasites, or cysts in the 
brain. In lambs it is associated with eclampsia 
of the ewe, both being caused by poor food, ex- 
posure or the infection that causes abortion. 

When of non-parasitic origin, twenty-grain 
doses of potassium iodid given in an ounce of 
water several times daily will do as much good 
as anything. 

4. Gid. 

See section on Parasites. 



SECTION XV. 

DISEASES OF THE ORGANS 
OF LOCOMOTION. 

1. Rheumatism. 

Cause: Usually damp quarters; exposure; 
chills, or watery food. 

This is a very rare trouble in sheep but some- 
times appears as an enzootic due to the causes 
enumerated above. 

Symptoms: Sometimes in the first stage, a very 
high temperature is recorded, with labored respi- 
ration and stiffness of the gait. This causes the 
trouble to be very difficult to correctly diagnose 
on account of the similarity of symptoms found 
in pneumonia, poisons, and acute infectious dis- 
eases. 

Treatment: Eemoval of the exciting causes, to- 
gether with hygienic care. Twenty-grain doses of 
potassium iodid or ten-grain doses sodium salicyl- 
ate several times daily may prove beneficial. 



126 



SECTION XVI. 

NON-PARASITIC DISEASES 
OF THE SKIN. 

Only after the most careful examination should 
a diagnosis of non-parasitic disease of the skin be 
made, and then it is the best policy to keep a close 
watch on the affected animals and to isolate them 
from the apparently healthy ones. 

1. Non-Parasitic Itch. 

This condition is so rare in sheep as to merely 
merit the mention that it may and does occur, the 
exciting causes being rich food, lack of exercise 
or crowding. 

The treatment is removal of the exciting cause. 

2. Alopecia. 

Falling out of the wool; baldness. 

This is frequently seen on the range, and to the 
inexperienced, looks like scab. Ewes that have 
lost their lambs and have had severe attacks of 
mammitis or "blue bag" are the common victims. 
Sometimes lack of food and exposure are the con- 
tributing factors. 

No treatment has been found successful, except 
to let it alone, and in case of old ewes, prepare 
them for market. 

127 



128 SHEEP DISEASES. 

3. Eczema. 

This condition may arise from insect stings, 
cockle-burrs, rain storms followed by rain rot, or 
too strong dips. 

Five classes of eczema are recognized, although 
in practical work, everything not scab is com- 
monly called eczema. 

Chronic squamous eczema is a disease of para- 
sitic origin usually, such as liver fluke or lung 
worms. Tt may also be due to lack of proper care. 

Greasy heels, resulting from muddy or damp 
ranges or pens. 

Fat scab, due to dampness, often called "rain- 
rot." 

Solar eczema, due to irritations from the rays 
of the sun immediately after shearing. 

Intertrigo or erythema of the claws and inter- 
digital space due to friction by sand or the like 
getting into the parts. 

Treatment: Removal of the exciting causes, 
and the feeding of light, nourishing foods. 

4. Rash. 

"Buckwheat rash," as it is called, occurs in 
warm weather in sections of the country where 
this grain is extensively raised. 

5. Acne. 

Known as "summer scab." Closely associated 
with eczema. 



NON-PARASITIC DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 129 

6. Ring-worm. 

This affection is very rare in sheep. The 
disease usually makes its appearance on the neck 
and back, forming a hard crust over the part in- 
fected. 

Scrubbing the hard scabs until they are soft- 
ened, and applying tincture of iodin to the raw 
surface usually results in a speedy recovery. 



SECTION XVII. 

DISEASES OF OBSCURE ORIGIN. 

1. "Nibbling" Disease. 

This disease, also known as "trotting disease," 
is a very rare affection of sheep in this country, 
if it occurs here at all, but is common in Germany. 
The cause has never been fully determined. It 
was not known in Germany until the fine-wool 
breeds were introduced into that country. It is 
most frequent in young* rams. 

Symptoms: The first noticeable symptom in a 
ram is excessive timidity; later, they begin to 
tremble, and have a very staggery gait. In the 
latter stages of the disease the animal nibbles 
itself on the back and loins, and in several weeks 
to a month, the victim dies of exhaustion. 

Treatment: The most important thing is correct 
diagnosis. Immediate slaughter is advised, and 
new blood used in mating. As "gid" produces 
some similar symptoms, a careful examination 
must be made to arrive at a correct conclusion. 

2. Louping-ill. 

Mad-staggers or trembles. 

Another obscure disease not found in this coun- 
try. 

Inflammation of the spinal cord from some un- 
known cause is thought to be the exciting cause. 
The trembling, twitching, grinding of teeth and 

130 



DISEASES OF OBSCURE ORIGIN. 131 

general paralysis follow in rapid succession, lead- 
ing to death. 

The treatment is merely preventive, such as re- 
moval to other ranges; the introduction of new 
blood in the form of unrelated sires, and nourish- 
ing diet. 

3. Big Head. 

A peculiar condition found in parts of the West, 
especially in the arid desert plains. The cause, 
cure or prevention is absolutely unknown at the 
present time. 

It occurs in the spring when the sheep are being 
driven from their winter camps to the forest 
ranges. 

The first symptom is a refusal to eat, and the 
animal becomes restless as if in great pain. The 
head begins to swell, and the ears become purplish 
in color. The clinical picture much resembles pur- 
pura hemorrhagica in the horse. Death usually 
takes place in from several hours to a day or two, 
although some animals recover. 

If the ears be scarified, a serous fluid, of a 
slightly reddish color, oozes forth; the animal 
seems to prefer to stand in water. 

The rough and ready treatment of the sheep 
man is to throw the affected animal into a puddle 
of water or a snow-drift, if the latter is available. 
A certain number get well, but whether this 
heroic treatment has anything to do with the re- 
covery is unknown. 

4. Pustular Eruption of Lambs. 

See section on Diseases of the Lamb (page 137). 



SECTION XVIII. 

DISEASES OF THE LAMB. 

1. Congenital Defects. 

Imperforate anus, unless quickly discovered, is 
incurable. If it be diagnosed early, many cases 
are amenable to surgery. 

Hernia or rupture is rare and difficult to treat. 
Usually, on the range, the lamb is so stunted that 
it is knocked in the head. 

"Skin drying" is caused by the ewe not being 
able to lick the new-born lamb. Later, its mother 
will not own it, and, if not attended to promptly, 
it dies from hunger and cold. 

Umbilical hemorrhage or bleeding from the 
navel sometimes becomes serious. Tincture of 
iron chlorid applied with a cotton tampon will 
usually stop the flow of blood. A stimulant should 
be given, such as a little brandy or aromatic 
spirits of ammonia. 

Suffocation is due to a twist of the umbilical 
cord during birth, and the lamb is born dead. 

2. Reviving "Lifeless" Lambs. 

When an apparently lifeless lamb is born, it 
may be revived in many cases by removing all 
mucus from the nostrils and mouth; breathing 
into the nostrils, and working on the chest as in 
reviving a drowning person. A very successful 

132 



DISEASES OF THE LAMB. 133 

method, as practised by some breeders, is to im- 
merse the lamb in a bucket of water that is about 
blood warm, pouring in a little hot water, to in- 
crease the heat. Dry thoroughly, and wrap in a 
blanket. Later, when it is able to swallow, ad- 
minister a stimulant. 

3. Retention of the Meconium. 

When the new-born lamb does not pass feces 
promptly, it begins to show signs of colicky pains, 
fever, and soon succumbs to inflammation of the 
bowels. 

The treatment usually successful, if not delayed 
too long, is an enema of olive oil. A teaspoonful of 
castor oil may also be given on the tongue. 

4. Navel-ill. 

Joint-ill; blood poisoning ; pyo -septicemia of 
sucklings; omphalophlebitis. 

The Bacillus bipolaris septicus, and the Bacillus 
coli communis, seem responsible for the presence 
of this disease. They gain entrance to the um- 
bilicus at birth or when the cord is ruptured. In 
some cases, it is thought the organisms have 
entered the circulatory system before birth. It 
is not such a common disease in lambs as in the 
foal, but outbreaks occur from time to time. 

Symptoms: The disease is very easily recog- 
nized, for the symptoms are very pronounced and 
characteristic. The lamb becomes "dumpish" 
and dull. It has no appetite, and the temperature 
per rectum will be found to be very high, often 



134 SHEEP DISEASES. 

107 degrees Fahrenheit. The stump of the cord 
assumes a purplish color, and Wharton 's jelly be- 
comes tinged with pus. Sometimes, the joints be- 
come enlarged. Later, a copious diarrhea sets in, 
followed by an intense cachexia and death. 

Treatment: Where a number of lambs are af- 
fected, the logical thing to do, of course, is to 
remove the whole band to another place, and, if 
the weather be suitable, to allow the ewes to lamb 
in the open. 

The pus may be squeezed out of the umbilicus 
of the affected lamb and hydrogen peroxid in- 
jected, to be followed by tincture of iodin, tur- 
pentine, chinosol, pix-cresol, lysol, or any of the 
coal tar preparations. Carbolic acid is not as 
good as other less coagulating antiseptics. Oil of 
eucalyptus is excellent. 

Internally, the lamb may be given twenty grains 
of the triple sulphocarbolates mixed in a raw egg, 
three times a day. A tablespoonful castor oil is 
also beneficial to correct the weakening diarrhea. 
Stimulants, antiferments, intestinal antiseptics 
and tonics, such as echinacea, all have their use. 

The chances of successful treatment in lambs 
that show the typical symptoms are not very good, 
and a grave prognosis should be given. In the 
treatment of valuable animals, bacterins may be 
used. 

5. Non-Contagious Diarrhea. 

This is usually due to some disturbance of the 
mother's health, or to the decomposition of food 
in the stomach of the new-born. Chills, cold, 



DISEASES OF THE LAMB. 135 

dampness and milk that is too rich are also com- 
mon predisposing factors. If not checked, it runs 
a rapid, fatal course, therefore prompt treatment 
is essential. 

Treatment: The exciting cause should be de- 
termined, if possible, and removed. Administer 
to the ewe a tablespoonful sodium hyposulphite 
twice daily. Milk out the udder thoroughly. Feed 
her nourishing food, such as bran and oats. 

The lamb may be given a tablespoonful of castor 
oil, to which is added a raw egg and twenty 
grains of triple sulphocarbolates. Salicylic acid, 
five grains, in condensed milk, is highly recom- 
mended. The following prescriptions have given 
good results, when preceded by an intestinal anti- 
septic and castor oil: 

Tr. ginger 3i 

Creosote, beechwood mv 

Dioscorea, Flext 3ii 

Fresh milk %iv 

M. Sig. Give in two doses, one hour apart. 

Tr. euphorbia oii 

Creosote mv 

Spts. camphor • oii 

Elix. lact. pepsin q. s. ad 3a 

M. Sig. Give in two doses two hours apart. 

6. White Scours. 
Infectious diarrhea; dysenteria neonatorium. 

This disease is caused by the Bacillus coli com- 
munis, a small, thick, rod-shaped, motile, non- 
spore-forming organism, not staining by Gram's 
method, but with the aqueous anilin dyes. Other 



136 SHEEP DISEASES. 

germs are thought to cause or assist in the infec- 
tion. 

Symptoms: Newborn lambs, a day or two old, 
seem to be the usual victims. The lamb becomes 
dull; loses its appetite, and the feces passed at the 
first are a bright yellow, later, a foamy, greyish- 
white. The wool is matted, and streaks of mucus 
are found on it. In a short time, the lamb be- 
comes very weak; the eyes grow glassy, and the 
victim drops to the floor and dies in a stupor. 

The temperature is about normal, and, as death 
approaches, drops to subnormal. 

Treatment: This is not a common disease of the 
range, but is usually found in low, marshy pas- 
tures, or sheds which contain the infection. The 
logical treatment is to isolate all the apparently 
healthy lambs, and give the sick ones intestinal 
antiseptics — a drop of formalin, in a little milk, 
or sulphocarbolates. The immediate slaughter of 
those hopelessly affected is advised. Immuniza- 
tion with bacterins may be tried where the stock 
is valuable. Prevention is the best method to pur- 
sue and the most satisfactory to all concerned. 

7. Colic. 

"Stretches"; belly-ache. 

Considered under the section on Diseases of the 
Digestive System, page 116. 

8. Constipation. 

Costiveness. 

For further treatment see page 115. 



DISEASES OF THE LAMB. 137 

9. Pustular Eruption of Lambs. 
This is a rare but fatal disease of lambs. 

Symptoms: These resemble those of foot-and- 
mouth disease very closely and experience is re- 
quired to differentiate. It seems to be contracted 
from a form of gangrenous mammitis in the ewe, 
and is very infectious. 

Treatment: Mainly quarantine and segregation 
of the infected. The ulcers on the lips of the 
lambs and the udders of the ewes may be painted 
with silver nitrate. 

10. Tetanus. 

This is very prevalent on the western range, fol- 
lowing castration, docking and ear marking. It 
has been considered on page 92 in the section on 
Acute Infectious Diseases. 

11. Stomatitis. 

The sporadic form is known as ' ' sore mouth ' ' or 
thrush among sheep men. The contagious form, 
known as "necrotic stomatitis." 

Symptoms: This condition is so difficult to dis- 
tinguish from foot-and-mouth disease, that no one 
should take any chances ; if the history will justify 
the supposition that it may be the latter, notify 
the nearest representative of the Federal Bureau 
of Animal Industry by wire. 

The simple cases are treated with mild anti- 
septics, such as boric acid, or weak tincture of 
iodin. 



SECTION XIX. 

DISEASES OF THE EWE. 

In the western sheep raising sections it is re- 
markable how small the loss is among breeding- 
ewes. This is largely due to constant culling out 
the ewes that prove to be poor milkers, or that 
have difficult parturition; those subject to mam- 
mary troubles, and those that lose their lambs. 
It is a "survival of the fittest" with breeders aid- 
ing nature in the selection. Coupled with this is 
the active life that the ewes lead during preg- 
nancy. 

The small bands of sheep, kept under artificial 
conditions, are the commonest victims of this class 
of disorders. Lack of exercise, with rich, con- 
centrated foods, play an important part in predis- 
posing to this as to other diseases. These factors, 
combined with exposure and spoiled forage, are by 
far the greatest hindrances to success with preg- 
nant ewes. The man who cannot, or will not, 
recognize these should retire from the sheep busi- 
ness, or, better still, never embark in it. 

1. Disorders of Gestation. 

Eliminating spoiled forage or bruises that cause 
abortion, very little trouble is met with in the 
pregnant ewe. 

138 



DISEASES OF THE EWE. 139 

2. Abortion. 

Three types are recognized, the first one being 
the most common: 

Sporadic or accidental, due to some injury or 
the ingestion of mouldy food. Upon a careful ex- 
amination of the food for evidences of mould, 
ergot, pitch or other toxic ingredients, the cause 
will usually be found. The treatment is removal 
of the exciting cause. Large doses of intestinal 
antiseptics or viburnum prunifolium are indicated 
in those threatened with abortion, together with 
clean, laxative food and absolute quiet. 

Enzootic abortion, due to some infectious dis- 
ease, such as blackleg, scab, pneumonia or rabies. 

Contagious abortion. This is so rare among 
sheep as to merit but little attention. When this 
does occur, quarantine measures constitute the 
only successful means of prevention known. The 
symptoms are similar to those of contagious 
abortion in the bovine. 

3. Dystocia. 

Difficult lambing; difficult parturition. 

Usually seen in young ewes lambing for the first 
time, and is due in the majority of cases to a pair 
of lambs entering the pelvic channel at the same 
time. They become tangled up in such a way that 
the most painstaking skill is required to "un- 
ravel ' ' them. 

First, restrain the ewe in such a manner that 
she will be powerless to strain. This may be 
accomplished by two assistants elevating the ani- 



140 SHEEP DISEASES. 

mal by holding- the hands under the flanks. Have 
the animal face a corner so she cannot creep 
away on her front feet. 

With the fingers cleansed and disinfected, form 
them into a cone. For a lubricant as well as a 
deodorant, one part of oil of eucalyptus in sixteen 
parts of raw linseed oil is very good. If the 
lambs are dead, injecting a lysol solution into the 
vaginal cavity will mask the odor. Eepel the 
lambs, and lubricate the vaginal canal thor- 
oughly. Now rotate one lamb nntil as near a nor- 
mal presentation as possible can be obtained. A 
small piece of twine or rope can be attached to 
the feet, and with traction exerted slowly and 
carefully, the lamb may be pulled out. 

When the lambs are taken away, the uterus may 
be flushed with a good antiseptic solution, and 
the ewe let down. If she is very weak, a stim- 
ulant should be given, and a warm blanket thrown 
over her. Many a valuable ewe can thus be saved. 
Unfortunately the veterinarian's fee for services 
in cases like this is ordinarily more than the ani- 
mal is worth. This low value of the ewe is the 
greatest hindrance to the handling of parturient 
cases in sheep. Under certain circumstances it 
might be well for veterinarians to make some spe- 
cial arrangements, as to charges for this work, 
with the owners of bands where a large number 
of ewes are to lamb at about the same time. 

4. Decomposition of the Fetus. 
In many cases a veterinarian is called upon to 
pass judgment as to whether or not a ewe is preg- 



DISEASES OF THE EWE. 141 

nant, and, if so, if the fetus is alive or dead. In 
some instances, this is a very puzzling question. 

In situations where the soil is highly impreg- 
nated with limestone or other mineral salts, one 
should always guard against the mistake of look- 
ing for a vaginal or fetid discharge in case of a 
dead fetus. Mummifications are often present 
under such conditions, with not a single external 
symptom visible. 

When a ewe has a fetus die within her, and 
barely pulls through the ordeal with her life, it is 
a good plan to advise fattening for the market. 
Adhesions often prevent future normal parturi- 
tion. 

In cases of putrid fetuses in the uterus, flushing 
out with strong antiseptics and deodorants, and 
a small capsule containing twenty grains of potas- 
sium permanganate and several drams of boric 
acid may be introduced into the uterus with ad- 
vantage. 

The udder should be attended to, for a violent 
mammitis, commonly known as "blue bag," may 
take place. Milk out the udder and apply bella- 
donna ointment. 

5. Displacement of the Uterus. 

The common term for this ailment is "down- 
fall of the lamb-bed," which includes all the ail- 
ments of the womb from the layman's standpoint. 

Three serious conditions may affect the uterus: 

(a) Hernia or rupture of the prepubian tendon, 

(b) Torsion or twist of the uterus when preg- 
nant. Fairly common in the ewe. 



142 SHEEP DISEASES. 

(c) Deviation of the uterus or complete ever- 
sion. 

Very little can be done to alleviate these condi- 
tions. As a rule, they are too far advanced to be 
treated when expert assistance is called. 

6. Eclampsia. 

Milk disease; milk sickness. 

Under this heading is considered parturient 
paresis, corresponding- to the condition of the 
same name in the cow — the well known "milk 
fever. ' ' 

Symptoms: After a normal parturition, and 
suckling the lamb, the latter dies or is taken away. 
Within a day or two the first symptoms a])] tear. 
There is loss of appetite and rumination. The 
ewe ceases to mourn the loss of her young, and 
the eyes grow glassy. Coma takes place, and the 
characteristic symptoms of milk fever in the cow 
are present. 

Treatment: This must be given promptly, and 
no medicine must be administered by the mouth. 
One dram of chloral hydrate well dissolved in 
lukewarm water may be given as a rectal injec- 
tion, or one-eighth to one-fourth grain morpkin 
given hypodermically. Atropin, in one-tenth 
grain doses, may be tried. Inflating the udder, if 
at all possible, should be tried. 

7. Metritis. 
Inflammation of the womb or uterus. 
When this condition occurs, uterine injections 
of antiseptics, stimulants and blood tonics should 



DISEASES OF THE EWE. 14o 

be given. There is very little satisfaction in treat- 
ing this condition, since, due to previous neglect, 
the case is usually hopeless at the time the vet- 
erinarian first sees it. 

8. Mammitis. 

Inflammation of the udder; blue bag; caked 
bag; mastitis. 

A rather common ailment in the spring among 
a band of ewes. 

The common treatment is to slash the udder 
open with a knife, and, if the poor ewe lives 
through this, to fatten her for the market. By 
humane methods and a little missionary work, 
much suffering among ewes may be averted by 
the veterinarian. 

Dissolve a half-pound Epsom salt in a quart of 
hot water, add an ounce fluid extract phytolacca 
to this solution; place the animal on her back, and 
with flannel or cotton, dipped in the solution, apply 
to the udder. In a few minutes the change will 
be remarkable. Bathing the udder with the warm 
solution seems to relieve the intense inflammation. 
If the lamb is alive, allow it to suckle, as the bunt- 
ing seems to massage the udder and aid in its 
restoration to normal. A tablespoonful of the 
Phytolacca may be administered twice daily for 
several days with benefit. If the lamb is dead and 
the ewe is to be dried up, belladonna ointment or 
camphor and lard should be applied. 

9. Abnormalities of the Milk. 

This is not a common condition among ewes. It 
is not so important as with the dairy cow. Still, 



144 SHEEP DISEASES. 

one is often asked about these questions, and the 
following is given for information: 

Agalactia or absence of milk. This is a symp- 
tom, and one of the first symptoms of disease in 
a milking ewe. A form of infectious agalactia has 
been observed among ewes and goats. It is of 
unknown origin. 

Watery milk. This is due to an absence of fats 
and casein; the milk is of a bluish color. By 
changing the food and administering tonics, the 
condition may be improved. 

Fatty milk. This is found among ewes that 
have been fed on rich, concentrated foods, such 
as oil cake, and in ewes suffering from lack of 
exercise. Diarrhea ensues among the lambs. The 
treatment is less food, more exercise and an abun- 
dant supply of water. 

Curdling milk. A symptom of indigestion, 
mammitis, poisoning, overheating, and of ad- 
vanced pregnancy. To alleviate this condition, a 
tablespoonful of sodium hyposulphite may be 
given once daily. 

Fermenting milk. Cause and treatment same 
as above. 

Putrescent milk. Caused by an invasion of bac- 
teria in the udder. Treatment is the same as for 
curdling milk, or fattening for slaughter. 

Slimy, stringy and soapy milk. Caused by fungi 
and bacilli. Rather rare. Treatment similar to 
that for curdling milk. 

Blue milk, due to the Bacillus cyanogenus. 

Red milk, caused by the Bacillus prodigiosus. 

Yellow milk, caused by the Bacillus synxanthum. 



DISEASES OF THE EWE. 145 

Foreign matter, such as dirt; abnormal taste, 
arising from certain foods, as carrots; drugs, as 
turpentine and asafetida; germs, such as are found 
in gangrenous mammitis, and blood, may all exist 
in milk. 

10. Sterility. 

A long scientific treatise on sterility in the ewe 
would prove not only impractical but tiresome. 
The common and best method is to fatten all ewes 
that prove to be non-breeders. Due to the small 
vaginal canal of ewes, manual examinations are 
difficult to make, and even when made often noth- 
ing abnormal can be noted in non-breeders. 



SECTION XX. 

DISEASES OF RAMS AND 
WETHERS. 

1. Gravel. 

Urinary calculi cause serious disturbances in 
rams and wethers, due to the very small caliber 
of the male urethra, which is only one-sixteenth 
of an inch in diameter. It has been noticed that 
the extensive feeding of sugar beets and mangels 
will cause gravel, and many animals have been 
lost from this disorder. 

Symptoms: The manifestations of this ailment 
are very pronounced, though rather hard to dif- 
ferentiate at the onset. There is sudden loss of 
appetite; colicky symptoms, with an urinous odor 
on the breath. Unless slaughtered, the animal 
soon dies. 

Treatment: Prevention is chiefly to be sought. 
Mixing a little sodium bicarbonate with the food 
several times a week is beneficial. Withhold sugar 
beets or mangels from male sheep. 

2. Hernia. 

Rupture in sheep usually is not diagnosed until 
after death. It is a rather rare but fatal condition. 
Only in valuable animals is an operation advis- 
able. 

146 



DISEASES OF RAMS AND WETHERS. 147 

3. Bloody Urine. 

This condition is merely a symptom of some pri- 
mary ailment, such as arise from injuries, gravel, 
poisons, roots or mouldy silage. 

Treatment: Symptomatic treatment is about 
all that can be given. It must be aimed at the 
causative factor. Whole flaxseed jelly in teaspoon- 
ful doses given in bran and oats is soothing to 
the urinary organs. 

4. Impotence. 

Sterility in the ram usually means fattening for 
market, as it is not profitable to experiment with 
a sterile ram. Sometimes finding this out is rather 
expensive, and it is a good plan to "try" several 
ewes in heat early in the season before turning 
the ram into the flock. 

It is commonly due to lack of exercise. Range 
bucks for this reason suffer but little from this 
condition. Medicinal treatment, if attempted in 
a valuable animal, must be subordinated to exer- 
cise to achieve any results. Damiana or yohimbin 
in small, repeated doses, together with nourishing, 
but not too concentrated food, may be beneficial. 



SECTION XXI. 

SURGICAL DISEASES. 

Surgery in the sheep has been of the "rough 
and ready" sort, to which the patient was as 
likely to succumb as to the original disease or ail- 
ment. Another thing, the value of the animal, 
except in the case of pure-bred animals, has never 
been enough to justify expert assistance. 

The sheep, like the ox, is very resistant to pyo- 
genic infection, and if in good condition soon re- 
covers from surgical interference when this is 
done in a skillful manner. 

1. Diseased Teeth. 

Often supernumerary teeth are found that inter- 
fere with rumination and cause the adjacent 
teeth to decay. Extraction is indicated, and can 
be performed with a small pair of "wolf tooth" 
forceps. 

2. Concussion of the Brain. 

This is comparatively rare, taking into consid- 
eration the chief method of defense is butting. 
On the western range, many cases are seen among 
lambs in the mountainous district, caused by rocks 
rolling down the mountainside and hitting them 
on the head. 

Symptoms: More or less vague, unless one 
knows the history of the case. The animal seems 

148 



SURGICAL DISEASES. 149 

in a stupor, while the respirations are small and 
rapid. Later, the animal becomes weak, assumes 
a staggery gait, and paleness of the visible mucous 
membranes is noticeable. 

Treatment: Medical interference in these cases 
is contraindicated, for a drench will enter the 
lungs. Dashing cold water on the head, and allow- 
ing the animal perfect quiet is about as good as 
any treatment known. 

3. Abscesses. 

Abscesses are rare in sheep, but sometimes may 
follow shearing. Curetting and irrigating several 
times with a mild astringent antiseptic, such as 
one dram potassium permanganate and two drams 
powdered alum to four ounces of water, is a bene- 
ficial treatment. 

4. Injuries. 

These consist mostly of bruises caused by ship- 
ping or crowding, or by predatory animals. 

Often the animal is injured far more seriously 
than external indications show, and with the best 
treatment dies from some internal disturbance. 

Dressing the injury with tincture of iodin and 
applying a dry dressing, together with a stimu- 
lant, is about all that can be done. 

5. Suturing. 

Very rarely performed in sheep, although in lac- 
erated wounds such as animal bites, it may be 
satisfactorily done. With the muscles and skin 
brought into apposition and held there healing 
will take place much earlier than otherwise. 



150 SHEEP DISEASES. 

6. Rumenotomy. 

Removal of the contents of the rumen or paunch. 

This is rarely performed although it lias saved 
the lives of many bloated sheep. 

Textbooks give elaborate directions for perform- 
ing this operation, but in actual practice if one 
were to follow them out, the majority of sheep 
would be dead before the contents of the paunch 
were removed. 

If there is time, an area the size of a man's hand 
on the left flank should be clipped, and tincture 
of iodin applied. An incision, running parallel 
with the last rib, and several inches long is then 
made. The contents are removed as rapidly as 
possible, the walls of the paunch sutured, and the 
skin brought into apposition with several inter- 
rupted sutures. Tar is smeared over the wound, 
and in several days the skin sutures removed. 

Sheepmen not infrequently perform this oper- 
ation with a pen knife and a piece of string for 
suturing material, and even under these conditions 
the operation often proves successful. 

7. Puncture of the Bladder. 

Frequently bucks and wethers are troubled by 
urinary calculi, which sooner or later close up the 
urethra and prevent the passage of urine. Surgi- 
cal textbooks give elaborate procedures in these 
cases, but after one has tried it several times on 
sheep he will desist. So many animals ''die get- 
ting well" that it does not give the operator any 
credit. 



SURGICAL DISEASES. 151 

8. Fractures and Dislocations. 

It is remarkable how few broken limbs or even 
dislocated joints occur among sheep. Grazing on 
precipitous cliffs that defy any human being to 
climb, jumping across narrow ravines, or even 
running headlong down a steep bluff, few acci- 
dents occur, and these are usually among lambs. 

The treatment of fractures in lambs is simple. 
First, dust boric acid or talcum powder over the 
affected part. Apply an inch layer of cotton, over 
which lay half a dozen wire or wooden splints 
after adjusting the ends of the bones. Bind with 
gauze bandage, not too tight, allowing for future 
swelling. The lamb can be carried along in the 
camp-tender's wagon, for several days, and it is 
amazing how soon it recovers the use of the limb. 

Dislocations, sprains, bruises and twisted joints 
are rather difficult to treat, rest being the most 
important factor. Applying saturated solutions 
of magnesium sulphate, and later, a solution com- 
posed of two drams fluid extract belladonna and 
one dram lead acetate in half pint of water, will 
often prove beneficial. Sometimes iodin compound 
ointment is as good as anything. Blistering med- 
icaments are not indicated. 

9. Amputation of the Claws. 
This is often necessary in foot rot, and consists 
in cutting away the diseased part with a sharp 
knife. Tincture of iron, creolin, balsam of Pern 
or any good antiseptic can be smeared over the 
part. The balsam of Peru gives splendid results, 
but is rather expensive for sheep. 



152 SHEEP DISEASES. 

10. Panaritium. 

Canker of the foot. 

Sometimes brought on by bruises and the con- 
sequent infection by the bacillus necrosis. Other 
times by excessive damp weather and ranging in 
low, marshy pastures. 

The treatment is largely hygienic; removal 
from the damp or infected quarters, and driving 
through a trough containing several inches of blue 
vitriol solution — one pound to five gallons of 
water, or even stronger. In very severe cases, 
one dram of formalin to two ounces of glycerin, 
or a paste composed of equal parts of flour and 
chlorid of zinc, may be applied with much benefit. 



SECTION XXII. 

PARASITIC DISEASES. 

Experienced men will corroborate the state- 
ment that more sheep are lost from invasions 
of parasites than from all other causes com- 
bined, with the possible exception of digestive 
disorders. Before the days when scab was under 
control, parasites were, even more than at pres- 
ent, the scourge of the sheep business. 

Sheep seem to have very little power to re- 
sist these pests, and when once infected, not only 
succumb but spread infection among others. In 
many instances, the vitality is so lessened by 
parasitic invasion, that although death does not 
result, little gain is made in weight or wool be- 
cause of the devitalizing effect of the parasitic 
infestation. The animal is in a fit condition to be 
carried away by trivial diseases, that in perfect 
health would be resisted with little trouble. 

It is of the greatest importance in this class 
of diseases to quickly discover the inciting cause. 
This is most vital; treatment of the infected in- 
dividual or individuals being secondary. Stock- 
men do not care for finely spun theories or for 
prolonged scientific explanation of the probable 
cause of an epizootic among their flocks ; they do 
not appreciate the beauties of science, and care 
little for the life-history of the pest. What they 
most earnestly desire and are willing to pay 

153 



154 SHEEP DISEASES. 

for, is final results. The time to explain how 
to prevent a recurrence of the trouble is after 
the epizootic has been brought under control or 
eradicated. 

In the sheep raising section on the western 
range only five parasites are common ; two ex- 
ternal, the common scab mite and the sheep tick; 
three internal, the stomach worm, the liver-fluke 
and the "gid" or "turnsick. " 

A. EXTERNAL PARASITES. 

1. Sheep Scab. 

Common scab; mange; itch; scurf; St. An- 
thony's fire; wildfire; erysipelas; dry scab; dry 
rot, and ringworm. 

Sheep scab is caused by the Psoroptes communis 
ovis; order Acarina; class Arachnida. 

The scab mite is a nearly round, rather light 
colored parasite, the female measuring about 
one-fortieth of an inch in length, and the male 
nearly one-fiftieth. By placing the mites on a 
sheet of black carbon paper and holding this 
in the sunlight, they can be seen easily. 

After mating, the female deposits about a 
•dozen eggs at the base of the wool fibers. These 
eggs hatch in three or four days; in a week the 
young will have matured, and in three or four 
days more they will have mated and the female 
laid her eggs. Gerlach estimates that the en- 
tire life cycle of the psoroptes mite is completed 
within fifteen days. Using these figures as a 
basis for calculation, it has been estimated that 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 



155 



the progeny of a single pair of mites may at- 
tain to the astounding number 150,000,000 in 
about four months ! 

Symptoms: To the experienced, the symptoms 
of scab are very plain. When a sheep becomes 




Sheep-sca.b Mite {Psoroptrs ovis). Male. 
Dorsal view greatly enlarged. 

(After Salmon and Stiles. ls<K ) 

infested with one or more mites, small inflamed 
zones occur where the mite pierces the skin to 
obtain food. This is followed by itching and the 
formation of papules, and, as the mites multiply 
in numbers, the area of inflammation rapidly 



156 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



increases. Serum oozes from the papules, and it 
is in this stage that the disease is first noticed. 
When bedded down, the infected animal will get 




SSeep-scab Mite (Psoroptcs ovis). Female. 
Dorsal view, greatly enlarged. 

(After Salmon and Stiles, 1898.) 

up and bite or rub its body against another or 
some tree or post. 

The wool begins to get ' ' taggy, ' ' and soon com- 
mences to fall out. Crusts form on the skin from 
the dried exudate. It is under the crusts that 
the mites live. 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 157 

Depending on the severity of the infection, the 
disease progresses until the animal never seems 
to be at rest. It becomes thin; the wool falls 
out in patches usually along the flanks and back; 
larger and larger areas of the skin become in- 
flamed and covered with crusts ; others become in- 
fected, and soon the whole band is one rubbing, 
biting, scratching mass of distracted sheep. 

Differential diagnosis: Practically the only 
way to become familiar with the disease is to 
see a genuine case. After this, the rest is com- 
paratively easy. 

Wool that has fallen out due to "blue bag" in 
ewes, or to exposures, leaves a soft, normal skin. 
There is nothing but a "bald spot" with no pim- 
ples, vesicles, papules or inflammatory zones. 

Eczema of the various types merely shows a 
reddening of the skin without the thickening that 
accompanies ' ' scab. ' ' 

In sheep work it is always safe to think of scab 
first, in suspicious cases, and to act accordingly. 
This will protect the veterinarian and the owner, 
even if it does put the latter to a little incon- 
venience. 

Treatment: As is well known, dipping and 
quarantine have nearly eradicated this disease 
from our country. The subject of quarantines 
has been taken up in the section on Federal and 
State regulations. 

Dipping with "lime-and-sulphur" has been the 
mainstay on the western range, the official dip 
being prepared as follows : 



158 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



Unslaked lime 8 pounds 

Flowers of sulphur 24 pounds 

Water 100 gallons 

The lime should be placed in a water-tight box 
or large bucket, and sufficient water added to 
make a thin paste. Sift the sulphur in slowly, 
mixing lime, until the lime and sulphur is about 
the consistency of mortar. A kettle with 30 gal- 




First stage of scab on shoulder, showing natural position of 
wool disturbed by biting and scratching. 

U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 713. 



Ions of water now receives this paste, and it 
is boiled for two hours. Water should be added 
to keep the total quantity up to thirty gallons. 
It should be stirred well with a mortar hoe, while 
boiling, to keep the paste from caking on the 
bottom of the kettle. After boiling for two hours, 
this "concentrate" should be placed in a barrel 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 



159 



to settle, with a bunghole four or five inches 
from the bottom. If the sediment be mixed up in 
the dip it will injure the wool, or may harm the 
eyes of the sheep. 

When ready to dip, draw off this clear liquid 
from the settling barrel into the dipping vat, 
and add 70 gallons of water, warmed so that the 







*»■! 




A 




Legend — Characteristic scab lesion in early stages of disease. 

V. S. Dept. Aj_'r. Bui. 713. 

whole mixture is about 100 to 103 degrees Fah- 
renheit, or in warm climates, several degrees 
higher. 

The size of the dipping vat should depend upon 
the number of sheep to be dipped and as minute 
directions for the whole operation are given in 
government regulations, this phase of the subject 
need not be taken up in detail here. 

In dipping sheep each one is ducked "head 
under" once, and kept in the solution for at 
least two minutes. 



160 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



In cases where the scabs are extensive, ''hand- 
dressing" should be clone to soften the crusts. 

There are a thousand and one methods of 
making np the dip and procedures in dipping. In 
actual practice one soon learns to make the best 
of facilities at hand, and forget the specific in- 




Legend — Scabby buck with entire hindquarters and flank af- 
fected. The discolored area is due to dip 
stain from hand dressing. 

V. H. Dept. Agr. Bui. 7l: J .. 

structions laid down by some person who has pos- 
sibly never been within a thousand miles of a 
real sheep camp. The man who is ingenious 
along these lines, and who can "get along" with 
the sheep men, is one of the most valuable assets 
that the Federal or state governments can pos- 
sess. Unfortunately, merit has been little recog- 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 161 

nized by either, and officials who have done noth- 
ing but antagonize the rank and hie of sheep 
men are kept in localities year after year where 
their usefulness is greatly impaired if not actually 
lost. This is one reason why so much enmity exists 
upon the subject of "scab." 

When ticks are present with the scab mites, 
the tobacco or nicotin dips are probably pref- 
erable, for they exterminate ticks better than 
lime-and-sulphur. These are made up in several 
different formulae, two of which are given : 

Tobacco 30 pounds 

Sulphur 7 pounds 

Concentrated lye 3 pounds 

Water 100 gallons 

Steep the tobacco in warm water for about a 
day, pour off the solution, and add the sulphur, 
lye and water sufficient to make up 100 gallons. 
Stir while using, taking the same precautions 
to keep the dip warm as with the common lime- 
and-sulphur dip. 

The nicotin dip is made up as follows : 

Nicotin Four-tenths of a pound 

Flowers of sulphur 16 pounds 

Water 96 gallons 

Mix the nicotin and sulphur together in a quan- 
tity of warm water, and add to the rest of the 
water in the dipping vat. Keep a close watch 
on the evaporation, as it may become too strong. 

The nicotin solution found on the market con- 
tains a statement on the package of the amount 
of absolute nicotin, and the correct amount to 
make up the above can easily be figured out from 
this basis. 



162 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



In making ivp clips one should take into con- 
sideration the severity of the infection; the state 
of weather; the kind of sheep; the hardness of 
crusts, and the facilities for dipping and heat- 
ing the water. This requires judgment and ex- 
perience. 

The sediment from the dipping vats is usually 
diluted and thrown around 
the corrals or pens as a 
disinfectant. 

Many other dips are 
used with good success. 
Coal tars, arsenicals, car- 
bolic acid, potassium sul- 
phid and patent dips are 
all on the market. Since 
the war, the prices of 
certain chemicals 
have so risen that the 
old lime-and-sulphur has 
gained somewhat in 
popularity. 

To eradicate scab from a band of sheep, every 
member of the flock should be dipped two or 
three times ; kept under close supervision, and 
at the least symptoms of its recurrence, re- 
dipped. 

The vitality of the mite egg or the mite itself 
is exceedingly great, although the exact length 
of life is unknown. However, it is not considered 
good policy to drive sheep into a corral or pen 
that has been infested within a year. 




Sheep Tick (Melophagus 
ovinus). Male. Dorsal 
view, enlarged. 

(From Curtice, 1890.) 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 



163 



2. Head Scab. 
Sarcoptes scabei ovis. 

This is the smallest of the three varieties of 
scab mites. It usually burrows under the skin 
around the nostrils first, causing small light pim- 
ples. The sheep scratches its nose as though in- 
fected with the "grub." 

This is not a common disease, and "hand 
dressing" with any good dip will 
usually clear up the trouble. 

3. Foot Scab. 

Symbiotes scabei ovis. 

These are rather large mites, 
and cause irritation on the feet and 
legs. The symptoms are biting 
and stamping, with crust - like 
formations. 

This malady is a rare one, and 
is treated by applying a lather of 
soap-suds or olive oil to loosen the 
crusts, and then scrubbing with a 
ten per cent, solution of creolin. 

In all forms of scab, of course, the pens or 
corrals must be disinfected, if the work be done 
during the winter season. 

4. Sheep Ticks. 

Melopliagus ovinus. 

This is a six-legged, brownish-colored, mot- 
tled parasite, resembling a wingless fly. It spends 
its entire life on the sheep, the female laying 




Sheep Louse 
(Trichodectes 
s p h a e r o- 
c e p halu s.). 
Adult female, 
enlarged. 

(After G. Neumann, 
1892. ) 



164 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



about fifteen eggs, which hatch in about three 
weeks, the exact period depending somewhat on 
weather conditions. 

While not so destructive as the scab mite, the 
tick causes a great deal of damage by blood suck- 
ing, in lambs, often stunting the growth. 

It is not an essentially infectious parasite, as 
it prefers to stay close to its old home. 

Swingle of Wyoming 
found a sheep can be 
kept free of ticks by 
keeping a three-foot 
partition between it and 
infected animals. 

Coal tar or tobacco 
dips are recommended 
to eradicate this pest, 
and two dippings, two 
days apart, will usually 
clear up the trouble. 
It is the common pro- 
cedure in the western states to dip the animals after 
shearing; this is not only beneficial to the fleece 
but rids the animal of ticks, lice and fleas, as well. 
In the west the ticks are very numerous on 
the sheep in the spring, but after shearing they 
leave the older sheep and are found principally 
on the lambs. Later, when the whole band are 
driven up in the mountains for summer range, 
practically no ticks are found at all in the band. 
During the winter they become numerous again, 
and do an incalculable amount of damage by suck- 
ing the blood and causing a constant irritation. 




Sheep Foot Louse (Haemato- 
pinus peclalis) . Adult fe- 
male and egg, enlarged. 

(From Osborn, 1896.) 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 165 

5. Lice. 

TrichocepJialus spherocephalus ; common sheep 
louse. 

This is a very small white and reddish brown 
parasite, measuring about one-twentieth of an 
inch in length. The eggs are laid at the base 
of the wool fibers. 

Only a very careful examination reveals the 
true cause of the irritation, as the symptoms are 
much like scab. In the heat of the day, the lice 
will be found to be sticking to the outer end of 
the wool fiber. 

If many animals are infected dipping with any 
coal tar dip is advisable. If only a few, an oint- 
ment composed of equal parts lard and sulphur, 
rubbed into the affected parts, will soon eradicate 
the lice. 

6. Maggots. 

Embryo of the Musca vomitorium or common 
blow-fly. 

This is one of the most serious pests with 
which the sheep man has to contend. When a 
sheep is accidentally cut during shearing, or re- 
ceives some other injury breaking the skin, the 
blow-fly attacks the helpless animal. Sometimes 
the wool becomes overlaid with fetid discharges 
such as urine, feces, or pus, and here the fly lays 
her eggs. Soon a festering mass of maggots 
are present, and which in a large band are often 
not discovered until the animal is nearly dead. 

The treatment consists in getting the maggots 
out of the sore, and painting the edges with tine- 



166 SHEEP DISEASES. 

ture of iodin. As turpentine is a common house- 
hold remedy, this may be used. A little ether 
mixed with sweet oil has a tendency to bring out 
all maggots that are deeply buried. Solutions 
of creolin are useful, or even coal oil (kerosene) 
may be used. 

The best thing is prevention. In case of in- 
juries, smear pine tar over the part, or equal 
parts lard and sulphur. All taggy wool should 
be clipped. 

7. Fleas. 

Pulex irritans [human]; Pulex serraticeps 
[dog]; Pulex avium -[bird]. 

These rarely attack sheep. It is sufficient to 
merely draw attention to their existence. In cer- 
tain localities, however, they are very prevalent. 

Dusting the animal well with Persian insect 
powder and disinfecting the pen or corral with 
creolin or lime will eradicate these pests. 

8. Flies. 

Under this heading come gnats, sandflies, mos- 
quitoes and other winged parasites. Flies of 
peculiar economic value to the sheep industry, 
such as the Musca vomitorium (adult of the mag- 
got) and the Estrus ovis (adult of the grub in 
the head), have been considered at length under 
their respective headings. 

B. INTERNAL PARASITES. 

Fortunately, due to the high altitude of the 
common sheep ranges in the west, very few in- 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 



167 



ternal parasites attack sheep. Only in isolated 
localities are these found, and then usually in 
low sections of the country, or in places long de- 
voted to sheep husbandry. 

1. Gid. 

Sturdy; turn-sick. 

This ailment is due to the larva or hydatid 
phase of the tapeworm, the Tae- 
nia coennrus. 

The eggs of this tapeworm are 
distributed around the pens or 
corrals by carnivorous animals, 
chiefly dogs. Other animals, 
such as the coyote, wolf or fox, 
may also be the host of this tape- 
worm. 

After the eggs are ingested 
by the sheep, it is supposed that 
they hatch and the embryos 
gain entrance to the circulatory 
system by piercing the walls of 
the stomach, although our knowledge of their 
life history is incomplete. Those that reach the 
brain or spinal cord develop into large cysts, 
and cause this fatal malady among sheep. 

Symptoms: The manifestations of gid are 
general in character, and at first one may 
suspect rabies, or some form of poison, but the 
coma that soon follows, and an autopsy, will re- 
veal the true cause. The animal becomes dull, 
with loss of appetite. Later, it begins to stagger 
around in more or less of a circle, hence the old 




Estrus Ovis. 
Adult female. 
Adult male. 



168 SHEEP DISEASES. 

name , "turnsick." Finally, it falls down and 
dies in a convulsion. 

The fact that there is no sneezing or nasal 
catarrh in gid differentiates it from grub in the 
head. 

Treatment: This is unsuccessful, prevention 
being the only logical method to pursue. Treat 
the sheep dogs with a vermifuge, such as the 
following : 

B 

Pulv. areca nut gr. xx 

Male fern 3i 

Turpentine m. x 

M. f. cap. 

Starve the dog all day, allowing plenty of 
water. In the evening, give the above, and the 
next morning administer four tablespoonfuls 
castor oil. Do not allow the dog to run over the 
sheep pasture. This is the average dose for a 
forty pound dog. Stray dogs are best treated 
with lead administered with a well aimed gun. 

Where sheep are known to be infected, all 
heads of dead animals should be burned and not 
fed to the dogs or left for coyotes. 

2. Grub in the Head. 

Grub; gleet; nasal catarrh. 

Cause: The sheep bot-fly, Estrus ovis, de- 
posits living larvae in the nostrils of sheep. 
These crawl up into the nasal cavities, causing 
a violent catarrh, and, in severe invasions, death. 
Loss of weight and lack of thrift always occur. 
In some localities, they are a very serious menace. 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 169 

Symptoms: These are very pronounced. The 
infected animal runs around snuffing as though 
it had something in its nose. The rest of the 
band keep their noses close to the ground and 
show signs of fear. Later, the infected sheep 
lies down, sneezes, rolls its head in every con- 
ceivable shape and exhibits the greatest of ex- 
citement. The eyes grow watery while the nasal 
membranes are inflamed. 

To differentiate from gid is comparatively 
easy. There is no violent staggering around in 
a circle, and no disturbance of the functions of 
the nervous system, the nasal catarrh being 
the most prominent symptom. 

Treatment: After infection, this is practically 
hopeless. Some good results have been reported 
by mixing snuff in olive oil and pouring it in 
the nose, while holding the victim on its back. 
Wire snares formed of small loops have also been 
tried. 

Prevention is the only logical procedure. Keep 
the nose well smeared with tar. In a large band, 
this is done by boring large holes in a plank, 
smearing the edges with tar, and filling up with 
salt. 

3. Lung Worms. 

Hoose; husk; snots; verminous bronchitis. 

The Strongylus filaria, a small, reddish-brown 
round worm, less than an inch long, and about 
as thick as a thread, is the parasite responsible 
for this disastrous disease. 

The life history of this worm is not exactly 



170 SHEEP DISEASES. 

known. According to some investigators, the 
worms deposit their ova in the air passages of 
the infected animal, and the embryos are expelled 
either through the sneezing of the animal, or 
through the feces. They can live in several in- 
termediate hosts, such as the angleworm, and 
when a sheep or a lamb eats or drinks in the in- 
fected locality, the parasite reaches the air pas- 
sages. Here again they pass through another life 
cycle, which is repeated with startling rapidity. 

Symptoms: The evidences of this ailment are 
most pronounced in lambs, and depend upon the 
number of parasites present. First, there is a 
pronounced anemia, commonly known as " paper- 
skin. ' ' A broncho-pneumonia is next seen, accom- 
panied by a short, hacking cough. The nose is 
rubbed on a log, and the victim breathes with diffi- 
culty. Toward the last, a diarrhea sets in, and 
the animal staggers around, until it falls to the 
ground, never again to rise. 

Treatment: This is useless when the lungs 
are infested, or the disease in the last stage. If 
the worms are in the trachea, one dram of gaso- 
lin may be injected intratracheally. 

Prevention is far more satisfactory than 
treatment of affected animals. Separate the 
healthy from the sick, and keep on high ground. 
Infested pastures should not be grazed for a year 
or two. The disease is seen at its worst in the 
fall, following a wet summer. 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 171 

4. Stomach Worms. 

This is one of the most serious ailments that 
affect sheep, especially is it serious in the young. 

Another member of the Strongyles, the Stron- 
gylus contortus, a brownish colored thread worm, 
is the cause of this ailment. 

The life history of this parasite has not been 
worked out definitely. It is the common sup- 
position that the ova are voided by in the feces 
of the infected animals ; other sheep pick them up 
on the grass or in the water, and thus spread the 
infection. 

This parasite prefers a cool, damp habitat, 
and experienced observers have pointed out the 
fact that the infection is usually acquired around 
shade trees where the lambs play during the heat 
of the day. On desert ranges, in sandy or vol- 
canic ash soil, very little trouble is experienced. 

Symptoms: The experienced eye will easily 
detect the symptoms of this disease. Along in 
July or August, the infected animal begins to 
hang back from the rest of the band. "Off color," 
says the herder. Emaciation becomes notice- 
able, and the walk is hesitating, like a sick person 
getting out of bed and taking a first few steps. 
The wool becomes harsh and rough, and the lamb 
becomes very weak. Later, the victim staggers 
about, keeping from tumbling on the ground by 
the greatest of efforts. A swelling comes on the 
lower jaw, just between the angles of the inferior 
maxillae, while the visible mucous membranes 
are pale, and the skin like parchment. Depend- 



172 SHEEP DISEASES. 

ing on the severity of the invasion, death may 
take place in from two weeks to two months. 

A postmortem examination reveals the pres- 
ence of clumps of reddish-brown worms, about 
half an inch long, and size of a hair, living in a 
brown liquid, in the lower part of the fourth 
stomach or abomasum. 

Treatment: In a small band of sheep, treat- 
ment can be instituted with a fair degree of suc- 
cess if started in time. Segregate all suspected 
cases and keep them in a corral. Drive the ap- 
parently healthy ones to another pasture, pref- 
erably a high and dry one. Keep all food away 
from the ones to be treated for a whole day, al- 
lowing plenty of water. That evening give to an 
ordinary lamb one-half ounce each of gasolin 
and raw linseed oil, to which may be added four 
ounces of fresh cow's milk. Repeat this dosage 
for three evenings, allowing food several hours 
after giving each dose of medicine. Very weak 
lambs may be fed more often, and a little stim- 
ulant given. Ten days later, give another course 
of this same treatment. 

Prevention of stomach worms is more to be de- 
sired than any treatment however successful. 
It is best accomplished by frequent change of 
pasture. In case this is impossible, it is a good 
plan to go out of the sheep business, for stomach 
worms and profit do not go hand in hand. Fight- 
ing this disease is not only an expensive battle, 
but an uphill task as well. 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 



173 




DlSTOMA HEPATICUM. 

a. Intestines. 

b. Oral sucker. 

c. Ventral sucker. 

d. Uterus. 

(From Kinsley's 
"Pathology.") 



5. Liver Rot. 

Distomatosis. 

This is a disease of deadly importance in low- 
lying countries but is not common to the sheep 
raising sections of the west. 
The sheep is naturally an in- 
habitant of high altitudes; 
this factor is in its favor, 
since to a large extent it 
keeps it away from noxious 
parasites to which it is so 
susceptible. 

Feeders who prepare the 
best mutton for market, and 
who buy western lambs that 
have never lost a feed and 
that have spent their lives at an altitude of from 
three to ten thousand feet above sea level, will 
sustain me in making this statement. 

Liver rot is due to the Distoma hepaticum or 
Fasciola hepaticum; commonly called the liver- 
fluke. 

The life history of the fluke is an interesting 
one, and may be briefly given as follows : The 
feces of infected animals contain the embryos 
which mature in about six weeks under favorable 
conditions. They then bore their way into the 
bodies of fresh-water snails, and after passing 
through certain cycles, emerge as cysts. When 
these are taken in by sheep in either food or 
water, they undergo a further development and 
migrate into the bile duct and on into the liver. 



174 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Just how long a period is spent in the liver is 
as yet undetermined; nor does the sheep owner 
care. What he wants to know is how to keep the 
flukes out of his animals entirely. 

Treatment is hopeless. Prevention is the only 
rational course to pursue. Do not attempt to 
graze sheep in infected lands. Disinfecting water 
troughs, if those are used, is a good precaution- 
ary measure. 

6. Tapeworms. 

Monieza [Taenia] expansa is the largest of all 
tapeworms. It is the cause of the so-called "tape- 
worm plague" in lambs. This is a very rapid 
growing cestode, accounts being on record of a 
month old lamb containing a thirty-six foot tape- 
worm in its intestinal tract. 

Monieza [Taenia] alba is a rather short, trans- 
parent tapeworm. 

Several other varieties of tapeworms are some- 
times found in sheep, but as they are never dis- 
covered until after slaughter, little attention need 
be given them from a practical standpoint. 

Symptoms: The symptoms of tapeworm in- 
festation are a gradual anemia and lack of thrift 
on good range. Many cases do not show any 
symptoms whatever. 

Treatment: This, as with the foregoing, is 
largely a matter of prevention. If the ailment 
can be diagnosed from previous histories of in- 
fection in the same band, the following should 
be given: Starve the lamb all day, allowing suf- 



PARASITIC DISEASES. 175 

ficient water. At night, given a teaspoonful 
turpentine in several ounces raw linseed oil ; oleo- 
resin of male fern may be substituted for the 
turpentine. 

7. Esophagostoma Columbianum. 

This minute parasite is the cause of the com- 
mon "nodular disease" so often seen in packing 
houses, where large numbers of sheep are slaugh- 
tered. The nodules vary in size; the older and 
larger ones being calcareous, while the smaller 
ones contain the parasite embedded in a mucu- 
purulent matter. 

The symptoms are so obscure that the presence 
of the parasite is not discovered until after 
slaughter. 

Treatment is hopeless. Prevention is the pro- 
cedure for which to strive, and this is not thor- 
oughly understood. The high dry ranges of the 
extreme West seem infested, and each year more 
western lambs are affected. 



8. Sarcosporidiosis. 

Sarcocystis tenella; Miescher's tubules. 

A class of minute parasites infecting the mus- 
cular tissues of animals, also known as "Mies- 
cher's tubules." It is becoming a very common 
parasite. 

Animals grazed in swampy pastures or near a 
pond seem to be more commonly affected. Later 



176 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



investigations seem to show that other animals 
may be the distributing agent, the sheep being 
the definitive host. 

No ant e-m o r t e m 
symptoms are recog- 
nized, and no treatment 
nor means of prevention 
is at present known. Re- 
moval to a high, dry 
range, and watering 
from running streams 
might prevent the para- 
site from gaining a hold 
in the band. 

While the meat of a 
carcass of mutton af- 
fected with this para- 
site is edible, the numerous hemorrhagic spots ren- 
der it rather unsalable. The diaphragm, perito- 
neum and other abdominal muscles are the parts 
commonly affected. 

9. Rare Parasites. 

Several other rare parasites infest the diges- 
tive tract and circulatory systems of sheep, but 
they are interesting merely from a scientific 
point of view, and have no practical significance, 
to the practitioner. 




Sacs of Mieschek from 
Muscles. 

(After Ziegler.) 





Original water color from collection in 
Smithsonian Institution by Walpole 




DEATH CAMAS {Zygadenus venenosus) 

"Permission Will C. Barnes 'Western Grazing Grounds and Forest Ranges ' 



SECTION XXIII. 

POISONS. 

Closely approaching in extent the losses among 
sheep due to parasites are the losses from poison- 
ing. The poisons destructive to sheep naturally 
fall into three classes, as follows: 

A. Mineral Poisons. 

B. Vegetable Poisons. 

C. Animal Poisons. 

On the Western ranges whole bands of sheep, 
numbering several thousand each, have been 
wiped out in a week, sometimes even in a single 
day, from eating poisonous plants or drinking 
water impregnated with some unsuspected toxic 
matter. 

It is a well known fact that certain localities 
abundantly supplied with springs are uniformly 
deadly to sheep. Sometimes only one certain pas- 
ture or part of a gulch is affected in this way. 

In the mountain ranges a great variety of ore 
formations occur, such as lead, zinc, copper, sil- 
ver and gold, salts of which sheep may ingest with 
their food or drink. Sometimes the poisoning as- 
sumes a chronic form, due to the fumes from 
smelters being deposited on the grass that is eaten 
by the animals. The diagnosis in these cases is 
extremely difficult. In sections of the country 
poisons, such as strychnin, phosphorus and ar- 

177 



178 SHEEP DISEASES. 

senic, are used to eradicate predatory animals or 
squirrels, and not infrequently are distributed 
where sheep have access to them or are washed to 
such locations by surface drainage. 

In treating cases of poisoning, one should re- 
member the three cardinal principles of toxicology 
which consist in administering: 

First: Chemical antidotes; substances that 
change the composition of the poison into some- 
thing inert. 

Second: Mechanical antidotes; substances that 
surround the poison and protect the absorbing tis- 
sues. 

Third: Physiological antidotes; substances that 
antagonize the action of the poison by neutralizing 
its effects on the animal. 

Keeping these facts in mind, one can often use 
ingenuity in selecting substances with which to 
treat poisoned animals, where the proper anti- 
dote is not to be had, a condition that is often the 
case since sheep are usually found in the most 
inaccessible parts of the country. 

A. MINERAL POISONS. 

1. Acute Lead Poisoning. 

Acute lead poisoning is rather rare in sheep, 
but it sometimes occurs in early spring. 

Symptoms: Colic, with bloating; suppression 
of the urine ; slow, wiry pulse, with labored breath- 
ing; gradual weakness, followed by convulsions 
and death within a few hours. 



POISONS. 179 

Treatment: Dilute sulphuric acid (a 10 per cent 
solution of the official dilute acid), commonly 
called "oil of vitriol," in one dram doses, given 
in a pint of water, forms insoluble lead sulphate. 

Epsom or Glauber's salts in one ounce doses 
dissolved in a pint of water, or a teaspoonful of 
sulphur mixed with molasses and smeared on the 
tongue may be given. A dram of potassium per- 
manganate dissolved in a pint of cold water is 
always good treatment, and may be administered 
when the exact cause of the poisoning is not 
known. 

Small doses of morphin, atropin, or glonoin may 
be given hypodermically, or chloral hydrate may 
be given per rectum. 

Treatment in acute cases of lead poisoning is 
not very successful, as the animals are usually 
too badly affected to even drench. 

Postmortem appearances: Only slight changes 
are noticeable; this is especially true of the apo- 
plectic form where the animals are found dying 
in convulsions. 

2. Chronic Lead Poisoning. 

This is sometimes seen where lead mines are 
found, or in the vicinity of smelters where the 
fumes are blown on the grass. 

Symptoms: Gradual emaciation, colic, bluish 
color around the gums followed by death from 
general weakness. 

One must be guided largely by the history of 
the case, and this is comparatively easy when one 
is familiar with the country. Old or working 



180 SHEEP DISEASES. 

lead mines or smelters may give one a clue as to 
the cause of the trouble. 

Treatment: One-half dram doses of potassium 
iodid dissolved in a pint of water will hasten the 
removal of the poison by transforming the lead 
into lead iodid. Gum acacia in water or raw eggs 
help to protect the mucous membranes. 

Postmortem appearances: Paleness of the in- 
testinal mucosa; ulcers and lead-gray discolora- 
tions throughout the alimentary canal. 

In a large band of sheep the only practical pro- 
cedure is a complete change of food and water. 

3. Acute Arsenical Poisoning. 

Acute arsenical poisoning is very rare in sheep. 

Symptoms: Great salivation, eroded tongue, 
paralysis, stupor, and death in a few hours. 

Treatment: Do not give oil. Hydrated iron or 
even the common iron sulphate in large doses, one- 
half ounce to a pint of water, may be given. Raw 
eggs, lime water, sweetened water, sulphur and 
potassium sulphate are also used. Treatment of 
acute arsenical poisoning is seldom successful. 

Postmortem appearances: Great redness and 
swelling of the mucous membranes of the alimen- 
tary canal. 

4. Chronic Arsenical Poisoning. 

Chronic arsenical poisoning is sometimes seen 
after using dips containing arsenic. 



POISONS. 181 

Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea, gradual emaci- 
ation, and sometimes a short, hacking cough is 
present. 

Treatment: Change of food and water. Iron 
sulphate in small doses — twenty grains per day — 
may be given. 

Postmortem appearances: Paleness of mem- 
branes with a general hydremia. Sometimes the 
postmortem findings are very obscure. 

5. Phosphorus Poisoning. 

This is sometimes seen in sections where this 
poison is used to kill noxious animals, such as 
squirrels. It usually occurs in the acute form. 

Symptoms: Phosphorus poisoning greatly re- 
sembles arsenic poisoning in that there is great 
salivation, a staggery gait, and death from con- 
vulsions. 

Treatment: One dram copper sulphate (blue 
vitriol) dissolved in a pint of water; same dosage 
of potassium permanganate; one tablespoonful 
turpentine given in mucilaginous solutions neu- 
tralizes the poison, changing it into phosphoric 
acid. Peroxid of hydrogen, lime water, charcoal, 
and raw eggs are also very useful. 

Postmortem appearances: Very similar to ar- 
senical poisoning. In subacute cases no lesions 
may be observable. 

6. Copper Poisoning. 

Symptoms: Colic; diarrhea; weakness; slow, 
wiry pulse. 



182 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: Iron in large quantities; raw eggs; 
mucilaginous drenches; milk and sulphur. 

Postmortem appearances: Inflammation of the 
intestinal tract is usually present. In chronic 
light attacks calcareous deposits occur in the 
kidneys, 

7. Zinc Poisoning. 

This usually occurs in the chronic form. 

Symptoms: Colic; diarrhea; weakness, and gen- 
eral paralysis. 

Treatment: Tannic acid in dram doses; sul- 
phur; raw eggs; sugar in water; gums; potassium 
permanganate. 

Postmortem appearances: Paleness and ulcers 
of the intestinal tract. 

8. Mercurial Poisoning. 

This is comparatively rare in sheep, although 
occasionally a sheep herder grows careless and 
leaves blue ointment lying around so that a lamb 
or two becomes poisoned. 

Symptoms: Salivation; bloody diarrhea; ec- 
zema; paralysis, and death from general weak- 
ness. 

Treatment: Sulphur; iron sulphate; raw eggs. 

Postmortem appearances: Signs of inflamma- 
tion in the bowels, with the liver enlarged, are 
two symptoms that may help one to arrive at a 
definite diagnosis. 



POISONS. 183 

9. Alkali Poisons. 

This includes ammonia, soda, potassa, and salts 
of these metals. Potassium nitrate, sodium chlo- 
rid and sodium sulphate poisoning, being more 
common than the others, are discussed under 
separate heads. 

Symptoms: Colicky pains; sloughing of the 
mucous membranes of the mouth and throat; 
bloody diarrhea, followed by collapse and death. 

Treatment: Large quantities of vinegar; raw 
eggs; demulcents. 

Postmortem appearances: Inflammation of the 
mouth and throat; edema of the larynx. 

10. Carbolic Acid Poisoning. 

As this is purely an accidental poison, the his- 
tory of the case will guide one to a correct diag- 
nosis. The odor of the poison, together with the 
coagulation of the tissues, are very plain symp- 
toms. 

Treatment: Alcohol; Epsom salt; Glauber's 
salt; raw eggs. 

11. Mineral Acid Poisoning. 

The treatment consists of soapsuds, lime water, 
baking soda, and an ounce of spirit of camphor 
may be given as a stimulant. 

12. Saltpeter Poisoning. 

Treatment consists in giving emollients, such as 
raw eggs, or mucilaginous gruels. Stimulants, 
such as spirit of camphor or aromatic spirits of 
ammonia or whiskey, are indicated, if available. 



184 SHEEP DISEASES. 

13. Common Salt Poisoning. 

This occurs where sheep have been deprived of 
salt for a long time and then given it in too gen- 
erous quantities. 

Symptoms: Chiefly a violent gastro-enteritis, 
with a watery diarrhea and frequent urination. 
Death occurs in a few hours. 

Treatment: Drench with large quantities of 
water; raw linseed oil; raw eggs, and give spirit 
of camphor as a stimulant. 

14. Epsom Salt and Glauber's Salt Poisoning. 
Symptoms: Intense thirst; weakness; watery 
diarrhea; death in a day or two. 

Treatment: Give large quantities of water; raw 
linseed oil; raw eggs; spirit of camphor, aromatic 
spirits of ammonia or whiskey as a stimulant. 

15. Sheep-Dip Poisoning. 

After dipping, some of the animals may show 
symptoms of trembling, staggery gait, paralysis 
and death. This may not only have been caused 
by swallowing some of the solution, but inhaling 
it into the lungs. The sheepmen are very philo- 
sophical about this, and when one or more die 
they merely shrug their shoulders and take it as 
a matter of course. 

Very little can be done in the way of treatment, 
for death ensues soon after the appearance of the 
first symptoms. Alcohol, whiskey, spirit of cam- 
phor, Epsom salt solution all may be given. The 
poisonous action comes from the cresol content 



S 5 




POISONS. 185 

of the dip, the action of which is similar to that 
of carbolic acid. 

16. Lime Poisoning. 

Cases have been known where a bunch of lambs 
have been confined to a rather close room and 
lime sprinkled on them to make them sneeze to 
get rid of the lung worms or grub in the head. 
Quite frequently the cure has been more disas- 
trous than the original ailment. 

The antidote for lime poisoning is vegetable 
acids, of which vinegar is a common example. 

17. Petroleum Poisoning. 

This is so rare that one should merely remem- 
ber to give large quantities of stimulants. It is 
not absorbed to any great extent, but acts as a 
mechanical irritant to the tissues. 

18. Rare Mineral Poisonings. 

Every now and then some rarely used mineral 
poison or a combination of such poisonings is 
the cause of the death of one or more sheep, 
usually lambs. The best thing one can do in case 
several are still living when called is to admin- 
ister demulcents and stimulants. 

B. VEGETABLE POISONS. 

Every experienced person is familiar with the 
losses incurred among sheep from eating poison- 
ous plants. Sometimes only a few are poisoned 
and die, while in other cases whole bands of sev- 



186 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



eral thousand have been wiped out in from a few 
hours to a few days. 

It is a well known fact that most of the losses 
occur in the early spring when the sheep are hun- 
gry for green stuff, or after shipment when the 

animals are so 
nearly starved 
they will eat greed- 
ily any plant they 
chance to come 
upon. 

The two most 
efficient methods of 
prevention, there- 
fore, are : First, 
keep off the range 
before the grass is 
abundant, and, sec- 
ond, keep the ani- 
mals supplied with 
sufficient food. 

In the early 
spring certain poi- 
sonous plants, such 
as death camas, be- 
gin to grow before 
the grass. The 
green, succulent 
shoots are eagerly nibbled and soon trouble en- 
sues. If the animal's rumen is full, and it eats 
but a few shoots of this plant, usually no symp- 
toms of poisoning follow. That is due to a lack 
of absorption or the very slow absorption of such 




A Pi.xe Tree Growing in Solid 
Rock — Favorite ranges for sheep 
are composed of mountainous 
scenes like this. A sheep will 
thrive where other animals would 
starve. 



POISONS. 187 

minute quantities as to cause nothing more than 
a slight discomfort. 

Old stockmen regard plant poisoning as prevent- 
able diseases. Their young herders often grow 
impatient to be off for the range, but the older 
heads look wise and say nothing, and remain in 
winter quarters. When first starting out in the 
spring, the "old man" will ride ahead and care- 
fully peer over the grazing ground on the lookout 
for "pizen." 

As Glover of Colorado has well said, ' ' Through- 
out the vegetable kingdom, from bacteria to the 
mighty oak, we find species of plants poisonous 
under certain conditions, but few of them poison- 
ous under all conditions." This is further illus- 
trated by the following statements: 

1. Some plants are poisonous only at certain 
stages of growth ; for example, the lupine is poison- 
ous at the time of going to seed; larkspur loses its 
toxic properties at flowering time; death camas 
is very deadly in the early spring, but later 
dries up. 

2. Unusual conditions and ecological factors 
may affect the quantity of poison in plants. The 
wilted leaves of the wild cherry or choke cherry 
are poisonous. 

3. Poison is found in different parts of the 
plant, such as in the roots of wild parsnips, the 
seeds of lupine, the leaves of the wild or choke 
cherry, and the entire plant of death camas and 
aconite. 

4. Variations occur owing to season and 



188 SHEEP DISEASES. 

the climate. These depend also on cultivation and 
location. 

5. Some animals are more susceptible to poison 
than others. Three sheep of the same age, size 
and degree of health may eat a few leaves of death 
camas. One may become violently sick and die in 
a couple of hours; the second may show signs of 
slight discomfort and soon recover, and the third 
one may exhibit no ill effects whatever. 

Loss from plants may be due to two causes: 

1. The actual toxic material contained in the 
plant itself, such as in the death camas, or 

2. The mechanical irritation arising from the 
sharp points or awns of the plant, such as foxtail 
or bearded barley. 

Lambs succumb in either case more quickly than 
adult sheep, due to the absorbing powers of the 
abomasum, or fourth stomach, and the greater 
danger from inflammation of the bowels. 

Emergency Treatment. 

Every sheep man should be advised to have in 
his medicine chest one hundred or more powders 
consisting of ten grains each of potassium per- 
manganate and aluminum sulphate. Several long 
neck pint bottles should be included, and when any 
sheep gets poisoned, fill the bottle with water and 
pour the powder into it. Shake well, and give 
very slowly. Do not set the animal up on its rump 
to drench it; to do so is to insure traumatic pneu- 
monia, and death. This dose should be repeated 
in twenty minutes. 



POISONS. 189 

Tannic acid in sixty-grain powders should also 
be carried along, as this is an antidote for many 
vegetable poisons. 

Laudanum, in teaspoonful doses, may be given 
to quiet the animal and relieve spasms, but treat- 
ment at the best is a poor substitute for preven- 
tion. 

Such measures as slashing the ears and cutting 
off the tail to bleed the animal, of course, can do 
no good and are even harmful. There are times 
when these procedures are useful, but not often 
in poisonings. Pouring melted lard and other con- 
coctions into the animals usually does more harm 
than good. This has a tendency to dilute the poi- 
son and render it easier of absorption. 

Morphin, glonoin, H-M-C and atropin all may 
be given hypodermically by the veterinarian. 

But in all cases of plant poisoning, remember to 
have on hand the potassium permanganate and 
aluminum sulphate, the tannic acid, and opium in 
some form as a hypnotic. Stimulants are often 
valuable, but when the victim is so far gone as to 
be unable to swallow, little hope can be entertained 
for its recovery. 

In all cases of vegetable poisoning, the usual 
treatment given by sheepmen is to administer a 
large quantity of stimulant, such as several ounces 
of alcohol or whiskey. In a short time, the animal 
becomes sleepy, lies still for several hours or more, 
apparently dead, and then, if recovery takes place, 
gets up, shakes itself, and trots off, rather weakly, 
to be sure, but otherwise as if nothing had hap- 
pened. In many cases, where the exact cause of 



190 SHEEP DISEASES. 

the poisoning is not known, this treatment may- 
be given with as good results as any. 

1. Death Camas. 

Botanical name — Zygadenus venenosus. 

Common names — Wild onion; lobelia; poison 
camas; and poison sego to distinguish it from the 
blue or edible camas. 

The leaves are lance-shaped, with a simple stem, 
and bulb-like root, greatly resembling a tough 
onion. The flowers are greenish-yellow in color. 
Its toxic principle is an unknown alkaloid. 

It is found in all kinds of locations, such as 
valleys, mountain sides and timber lands. Its 
habitat seems to be South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, 
Washington, and parts of Utah, Oregon, Wyoming 
and California. 

One must see this plant growing in its native 
haunts to get a vivid mind-picture of it. 

This has caused the loss of thousands of sheep. 
Instances have been known where over two thou- 
sand have died in one day from the effects of this 
poison! 

Symptoms: These greatly resemble strychnin- 
poisoning in general. The animal becomes very 
restless from the severe pain. Trembling and 
frothing at the mouth are next seen. Death 
usually takes place in one to three hours, and from 
one-half to two-thirds of those exhibiting symp- 
toms die. 

Treatment: Give a drench of ten grains each 
of potassium permanganate and aluminum sul- 



POISONS. 191 

phate dissolved in a pint of cold water, or water 
with the chill taken off it. This dose should be 
mixed up just before using, as it soon loses its 
strength. 

2. Loco. 

Botanical name — Astragalus mollissimus [pur- 
ple loco]; and Aragallus lamberti [white loco]. 
Common names — Rattle weed; loco. 

It may be said that when the loco grows in large 
patches it resembles a field of alfalfa. It is a stem- 
less herb, with numerous leaves, the whole plant 
being about a foot high. 

Its habitat is in the Rocky Mountain region, ex- 
tending from Montana south to the Mexican line. 

Horses are its commonest victims, but occa- 
sionally a bunch of sheep become ' ' locoed ' ' to the 
profane disgust of the owner. 

Symptoms: Are characteristic and are not seen 
from eating any other weed. The animal steps 
high and seems to lose control of its legs. It de- 
velops an insatiate desire for the weed. Other 
animals imitate the victim out of curiosity and 
also become victims of the weed. 

Treatment: This is largely preventive. When 
an animal is seen eating loco with apparent relish, 
remove it from the band at once. If worth saving 
it may be given teaspoonful doses of Fowler's 
solution of arsenic once daily. 

Do not turn the animals out on pasture when 
they are very hungry or in the early spring. 



192 SHEEP DISEASES. 

3. Larkspur. 

Botanical name — DelpMnum. 

This does not cause so much loss among sheep 
as among cattle. There are many varieties, all 
more or less poisonous. The tall larkspur grows 
to a height of nearly four feet, with very smooth 
leaves and blue flowers. Purple larkspur grows 
nearly a foot high, bearing very beautiful purple 
flowers. 

Its habitat is in the western range country, but 
it is not thickly distributed. 

Symptoms: The animal walks with a stiff, 
trembling gait. Frothing at the mouth is noticed, 
and the victim makes a start for the nearest water- 
ing place, but often dies before reaching it. The 
fact that many animals have been found dead 
around a water hole has set up the mistaken cry 
that the water was poisoned. 

Treatment: Largely preventive. When the 
animal is found poisoned, place its head higher 
than the body. Carefully give the potassium per- 
manganate and aluminum sulphate drench. One- 
twentieth of a grain of atropin may be given hypo- 
dermically. For lambs, reduce this dosage accord- 
ingly. 

4. Lupine. 

Botanical name — Lupin us. 

Common names — Wild pea; ivild bean; blue 
bean. 

There are several dozen varieties of lupine, all 
are legumes or members of the pea family, the 




A-'riOENSCO * 



Original water color by N. Brenizer 

Purple Larkspur {Delphinium bi-coior) 

••Permission Will C. Barnes 'Western Grazing Grounds and Forest Ranges ' 



POISONS. 193 

group to which the clovers and alfalfa belong. 
None seem to be poisonous until reaching ma- 
turity. 

The most common lupines are rather tall, with 
branching forms. The leaves are green above and 
silver-grey beneath. The flowers vary from blue 
to white. Its habitat is pretty well distributed 
over the United States, but it assumes a more poi- 
sonous form out in the western range sections. 

Symptoms: The sheep becomes excited; walks 
in a circle, and butts its head against any inter- 
vening obstruction. Paralysis then comes on, and 
death ends the struggle within a few hours to 
several days. The general symptoms resemble 
strychnin poisoning greatly. 

Treatment: The potassium permanganate and 
aluminum sulphate drench may be given. In cases 
of convulsions, laudanum in teaspoonful doses, or 
chloral hydrate in two-dram doses, or one-quarter 
grain morphin hypodermically, may be adminis- 
tered. Acids have been tried also. 

This is not a very common ailment among 
sheep, except in small localities. In Germany it 
often assumes the gravity of an enzootic under 
the name of "lupinosis." 

5. Aconite. 

Botanical nam e — Aeon itu m . 

Common names — Monkshood; wolfsbane. 

This plant greatly resembles larkspur in that it 
has a blue flower, but this is "hood shaped." 
Much confusion exists between this plant and lark- 



194 SHEEP DISEASES. 

spur, and the chances are that owing to its pungent 
taste aconite does very little actual damage. Sev- 
eral species of aconite occur in the United States, 
the commonest being the Aconitum Columbianum; 
it grows in very high altitudes, up to ten thousand 
feet, and occasionally a band of sheep, very hun- 
gry for green stuff, may eat enough to cause seri- 
ous results. 

Symptoms: Muscular weakness, with labored 
breathing, and a very weak, wiry pulse. Bloating, 
frothing at the mouth, and, as death draws near, 
the eye is greatly dilated. 

Treatment: One dram (sixty grains) tannic 
acid dissolved in an ounce of glycerin and a pint 
of water is the chemical antidote; atropin given 
hypodermically in one-tenth grain dosage is the 
physiological antidote. 

6. Water Hemlock. 

Botanical name — Cicuta occidentalis. 

Common names — Coicbane; sometimes called 
wild parsnip, but differing greatly from the real 
wild parsnip. 

It grows from three to six feet high. Its stem 
is hollow, green and smooth. The roots are 
bunched together, and are spindle-shaped, with 
cross partitions in them. The real wild parsnip 
has only one thick, fleshy root, which is an easy 
way to tell the two apart. 

The flowers are a dull greenish- white. The 
plant grows along banks of rivers and marshes, 
and is pretty well distributed over the West. 



POISONS. 195 

It is one of the most deadly of poisonous plants, 
the toxic matter being found in the root, stem 
and leaves. 

Symptoms: Great abdominal pain, which grows 
more intense in a few minutes, is the first symptom 
noticed. Sweating, frothing at the mouth, con- 
vulsions, and within half an hour to several hours 
death takes place in terrible agony. 

Treatment: Relief in the great majority of 
cases is absolutely hopeless. Raw linseed oil, lard, 
raw eggs, or any agent to soothe the irritated mu- 
cous membranes may be given. The potassium 
permanganate and aluminum sulphate drench may 
also be administered. Stimulants, such as spirit 
of camphor, whiskey, ether, aromatic spirit of 
ammonia or brandy, are indicated. 

7. Choke Cherry. 

Botanical name — Primus demissa. 
Common name — Choke cherry; choke berry. 

This is a shrub with glistening green leaves, 
not ordinarily harmful, except when famished 
sheep are driven through thickets of it. It is 
found usually in gulches. The poison contained 
in the leaves is hydrocyanic or prussic acid. 

Symptoms: The first symptom noticed after 
passing through one of these cherry thickets is 
extreme giddiness; labored breathing, with spas- 
modic contractions of the bowels and bladder. 
Spasms continue until death ends the struggle. 
The attack is speedily fatal if the animals eat of 
these leaves when their stomachs are empty. 



196 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: Largely preventive; the wise sheep 
man does not allow his sheep access to the leaves 
while they are very hungry. 

Throwing cold water on the head, with inhala- 
tions of ammonia, and the hypodermic injection 
of one-tenth or one-twentieth grain of atropin is 
about all that can be done. Even this must be done 
immediately, and therefore by the herder, to be of 
any avail. 

8. Laurel. 

Botanical name — Kalmia angustifolia; kalmia 
latifolia. 

Common names — Laurel; sheep laurel; lambkill, 
and in the southern states, ivy. 

It is a common plant in the eastern part of our 
country, growing in the woods with great profu- 
sion. It is a shrub with a pink flower. It is eaten 
only when the animals are famished for food or 
green forage. 

Symptoms: Frothing at the mouth; labored 
breathing; loss of sight; paralysis; coma and 
death. 

Treatment: The potassium permanganate and 
aluminum sulphate drench may be given at once, 
and one-twentieth of a grain of atropin hypoder- 
mically. Usually the animal is beyond recall when 
discovered. 

9. Veratrum. 

Botanical name — Veratrum viricle or speciosum. 
Common name — Hellebore, Indian poke root. 

A stout, coarse plant growing about three feet 
tall. The leaves are broad, with greenish- white 



POISONS. 197 

flowers. It is found in moist land. Very little 
attention need be paid this plant, as sheep will 
not touch it; a lamb, though, may nibble at it out 
of mere curiosity and later regret it. 

Symptoms: Frothing at the mouth; diarrhea; 
labored breathing; bloat; great abdominal pain, 
and death within a short time. 

Treatment: One dram (sixty grains) of tannic 
acid dissolved in an ounce of glycerin and a pint 
of cold water may be given to form an insoluble 
precipitate, or raw linseed oil, lard, or raw eggs 
to soothe the mucous membrane. 

10. Ergot. 

Botanical name — Claviceps purpurea. 
Common name — Smut. 

Ergot is a black parasitic growth found on va- 
rious grasses, being very prevalent on both wild 
and tame rye. The dust-like, powdery pod is 
familiar to all. 

Its greatest danger is to pregnant ewes, a very 
small quantity being capable of producing abor- 
tion. Sometimes it causes serious losses to a band 
of sheep by being thickly distributed through the 
hay. 

Symptoms: The animal exhibits symptoms of 
painful swallowing, gulping as though it were 
choked. The pulse is slow, breathing shallow, and 
in gangrenous cases the ears become swollen and 
purple. Paralysis comes on gradually, death tak- 
ing place quietly, as though the animal Were tired 
of life. 



198 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: Immediate change of food. One 
dram of tannic acid (sixty grains) dissolved in a 
pint of water, to which is added a teaspoonful 
sweet spirit of nitre. The latter will neutralize 
the action of the poison in the blood to some extent, 
while the tannic acid renders the ergot in the 
stomach inert. Cutting off the ears or tail is some- 
times indicated. Painting the necrosed areas 
with balsam of Peru will help these to heal, in case 
of recovery. 

11. Deadly Nightshade. 

Botanical name — Solanum nigrum. 
Common name — Deadly nightshade. 

A smooth, wide-branching weed, growing one or 
two feet high, with clusters of white flowers. The 
berries, which ripen along in the late summer, are 
black, almost round, and very juicy. It is com- 
mon to all sections of the United States. 

Symptoms: Giddiness; dilated pupils; great 
abdominal pain; convulsions, followed by paralysis 
and death. 

Treatment: As this very rarely causes death in 
sheep, treatment is a secondary consideration. A 
teaspoonful of soda dissolved in a pint of water 
may be given, and stimulants, such as whiskey, 
sweet spirit of nitre or ether, are indicated. 

12. Woody Aster. 

Botanical name — Xylorhiza Parryi \_Gray~\. 

This plant, found in Wyoming, and growing on 
gumbo-clay soil, has killed many sheep in the 



POISONS. 199 

past. It is infected with a fungus, and whether 
this contains the toxic ingredients or the plant 
itself is poisonous, has not yet been determined. 

It is a medium-sized plant, blossoming about the 
first of May, and grows less poisonous with age, 
being entirely inactive when withered. 

The poison is very fatal to sheep, from ninety 
to one hundred per cent of the affected animals 
dying in spite of all treatment. 

Symptoms: From one to several hours after 
eating the plant, depending on the fullness of the 
first stomach, the animal begins to grow weak; 
labored breathing is noticed; then bloating, with 
frequent urinating. Later, a diarrhea sets in, the 
eyes become dilated, and the animal dies in from 
several hours to three or four days. 

Treatment: No successful line of treatment has 
yet been worked out. Stimulants, such as one- 
half ounce aromatic spirits of ammonia in a cup 
of warm water; dram doses of oil of peppermint 
in a half-pint raw linseed oil; dram doses of lauda- 
num in oil, have all been tried with varying suc- 
cess. 

The best line of treatment is prevention, and 
avoiding aster patches when the sheep are hun- 
gry, especially in the early spring. 

13. Sneeze Weed. 

Botanical name — Helenium montanum. 

This belongs to the sunflower family, growing 
from one to three feet high. It has long, lance- 
shaped leaves, with bright yellow flowers. 



200 SHEEP DISEASES. 

It is a very bitter weed, and sheep will not touch 
it unless almost starved. Sometimes, however, a 
young animal will develop a taste for it. 

Symptoms: Spasms; rapid pulse; labored 
breathing, and extreme sensitiveness of the skin. 
There is sneezing and coughing, and death ends 
the clinical picture. 

Treatment: If observed before convulsions take 
place, a pint of melted lard may be given. Re- 
moval from infected pastures is the only logical 
procedure. The weed is very abundant on old, 
worn-out ranges, and is mute testimony to the 
folly of over-grazing. 

14. Rubber Weed. 

Botanical name — Hymenoxys floribunda. 
Also known as "pingue", the Spanish name of 
the weed. 

This is a small weed, bearing a yellow flower, 
and is found in the semi-arid ranges of southern 
Colorado and northern New Mexico. It does not 
contain any poisonous principle, so far as is 
known, but causes death by forming a rubber-like 
obstruction in the intestinal tract. 

Symptoms: The animal appears drowsy, and 
loses its appetite. It lies down and refuses to get 
up. Death takes place in from one to several 
hours after the first symptoms are noted. 

Treatment: As this is a very obscure disorder, 
treatment is still in the experimental stage. It has 
been found through practical experience that a 




Water color by N. Brenizer 



Lupine (.Lufiinusi 

er Mission Will C. Barnes •Western Grazing- Grounds and Forest Ranges ' 



POISONS. 201 

pint of warm brine given every hour will do as 
much or more good than anything yet tried. This 
may have a tendency to dissolve the mass. 

15. Strychnin. 

This is an accidental poisoning, the plant not 
growing in this country. The trouble usually 
follows attempts to poison noxious animals, and 
the sheep may get enough to kill them. 

Symptoms: The signs of strychnin poisoning 
are familiar. First is noticed a restlessness, la- 
bored breathing, rapid, wiry pulse, and the animal 
walks as though it were on stilts. The muscles 
twitch, the eyes become bloodshot, and there is 
frothing at the mouth. Convulsions set in and 
the animal dies with spasmodic twitching of the 
limbs. 

Treatment: One dram (sixty grains) tannic 
acid dissolved in glycerin and water, an ounce 
of the former to a pint of the latter, followed by 
two drams chloral hydrate dissolved in a half-pint 
of water or given per rectum. Morphin in one- 
fourth grain doses may be given hypodermically. 
Raw eggs are excellent, while raw linseed oil or 
melted lard seems to assist in keeping the poison 
from being absorbed. 

16. Cotton Seed Meal. 

Poison by this valuable food is usually seen 
where there is too heavy feeding of oil cake. 

Symptoms: There is a bloody diarrhea and 
bloody urine; cramps; bloat, and great abdominal 
pain. 



202 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Treatment: Immediate change of food. Lambs 
may be given an ounce of castor oil and several 
raw eggs. 

17. Tobacco. 

Botanical name — Nicotiana. 

Sometimes seen after the use of tobacco or nico- 
tine dips. 

Symptoms: Great abdominal pain; frothing at 
the mouth; diarrhea; bloat; convulsions, followed 
by paralysis, and death within an hour or so after 
the first symptoms are noticed. 

Treatment: One dram (sixty grains) tannic 
acid dissolved in a pint of water, to which has been 
added an ounce of glycerin. Black coffee may also 
be given. 

18. Digitalis. 

Digitalis poisoning very rarely occurs in sheep, 
as the digitalis plant, commonly known as fox- 
glove, is a cultivated drug plant. 

The symptoms are variable and one must know 
the complete history of the case in order to make 
a definite diagnosis. 

No cure or antidote is known, although the tan- 
nic acid drench may be given a trial. 

19. Turpentine. 

In the western range sections sometimes when 
the sheep are almost famished and food is scarce 
they will eat enough shoots of young evergreen 
trees to cause turpentine poisoning. 



POISONS. 203 

Symptoms: Acute gastroenteritis; colic; con- 
stipation, the pellets voided being covered with 
a bloody, slimy mucus. The urine becomes bloody 
and general weakness follows. The course is a 
gradual one, sometimes lasting from several days 
to a couple of weeks. 

Treatment: Removal from the offending pas- 
ture. Tannic acid in dram doses, together with 
whole flaxseed jelly to soothe the irritated urinary 
membranes. Small doses of lead acetate (from 
five to ten grains) may be given daily. 

20. Rape Seed. 

This causes inflammation of the bowels, bloody 
diarrhea, convulsions and death. 

The treatment is wholly symptomatic, and when 
the malady has reached an advanced stage, treat- 
ment is hopeless. 

21. Croton Oil. 

When administered to cure constipation, some- 
times an overdose is given. Violent cramps with 
a watery dysentery follow. Raw eggs, contain- 
ing teaspoonful doses of laudanum, may be given, 
but death is the usual sequel. 

22. Hemlock. 

Botanical name — Conium maculatum. 

Poisoning by this is very rare; the acrid taste 
of the hemlock keeps the sheep from eating it, 
even though they be almost starved. The usual 
victims are lambs and the end is death. 



204 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Symptoms: Are convulsions, followed by com- 
plete paralysis. 

Treatment: While almost always fatal, one may 
administer one dram tannic acid dissolved in an 
ounce of glycerin and a pint of water. Spirit of 
camphor in tablespoonfnl doses can be given as a 
stimulant. 

23. Flax. 

Botanical name — Linum usitatissimum. 

In sections where flax is extensively raised occa- 
sional cases of poisoning among sheep have been 
known. 

Symptoms: Colic; diarrhea; convulsions and 
death. 

Treatment: Give the tannic acid drench. 

24. Horse Radish. 

Botanical name — Cochlearia armor acia. 

Sometimes in the early spring, sheep eat too 
much of this common garden plant, and a violent 
colic and diarrhea takes place. 

The treatment consists in giving one dram of 
tannic acid dissolved in a pint of water. Sev- 
eral raw eggs beaten up can be next given to 
soothe the irritated mucous membranes. 

If the horse radish is old and strong the animal 
will not need to be blanketed to keep it warm, 
and if it should die the flesh will not need sea- 
soning. 

25. Toadstools. 

These are never eaten by sheep, but if a lamb 
nibbles at one, the symptoms following are almost 



POISONS. 205 

maniacal in form. Not much can be done, but 
a teaspoonful tannic acid dissolved in a cup of 
water may be given with advantage in some cases. 

26. Potato Tops. 

The symptoms greatly resemble foot-and- 
mouth disease, and the tannic acid drench should 
be tried. 

27. Poison Oak. 

Botanical name — Rhus diversiloba. 
Common names — Poison ivy; poison sumac. 

There are a number of varieties in this group, 
and poisoning rarely occurs in sheep from any 
of them. In case it does, drenches of raw linseed 
oil in pint doses seem to do more good than any- 
thing else yet tried. The course of the ailment is 
a lingering one, sometimes lasting over a week. 

28. Kafir Corn and Sorghums. 

Losses sometimes occur in sheep in the autumn 
from turning in fields from which kafir corn or 
sorghum have been harvested. The young stub- 
ble contains hydrocyanic (prussic) acid, or sub- 
stances that may be changed into this acid when 
ingested by herbivora. It is very deadly to cattle 
and sheep. Hogs seem to be immune. 

The only beneficial treatment known is to give 
a drench of the potassium permanganate and 
aluminum sulphate, twenty-grain doses of each, 
dissolved in a pint of water. However, as death 
often occurs within a very few minutes after the 
first symptoms of poisoning are shown, treat- 



206 SHEEP DISEASES. 

ment is frequently impossible. As kafir and sor- 
ghum stubble is not uniformly poisonous it may 
be worth while to "try" it with only a few sheep 
otherwise it is unsafe to turn a band onto such 
forage. The danger is greater in dry seasons 
than in normal seasons. 

29. Bearded Grasses. 

A number of grasses such as foxtail, bearded 
barley or wheat, cheat, needle-grass and sand- 
burrs all cause trouble to sheep by mechanical ir- 
ritation. A violent gastro-enteritis is often in- 
duced by eating them. Sometimes a bunch of the 
spikes or awns lodge in the mouth under the 
tongue and the animal starves to death from in- 
ability to eat. 

When once affected, absolutely no treatment is 
known that is successful if the irritation occurs 
in the stomach or bowels. A careful post-mortem 
examination will reveal the cause, and an exten- 
sive repetition of the trouble can be avoided by 
changing pastures. 

30. Ensilage. 

Cases have been known where a large number 
of sheep have been killed by feeding on mouldy 
silage, or silage that apparently was in good con- 
dition, but contained the fungus, "Penicillium." 

The symptoms are the same as from mouldy 
feed of any kind: A violent colic, constipation, 
followed by fetid diarrhea, convulsions and death. 

Treatment is very unsuccessful, since, when the 
animals begin to exhibit typical symptoms, fatal 



POISONS. 207 

quantities of the toxic principles have already 
been absorbed. 

Large doses of potassium permanganate, one 
dram or sixty grains dissolved in a pint of water, 
may be given. The triple sulphocarbolates, in 
sixty grain doses, combined with a dram of tinc- 
ture of ginger and an equal quantity of dioscorea 
may also be tried. 

If only camp remedies are at hand, give a tea- 
spoonful of powdered ginger, and one-fourth 
teaspoonful each of salt and pepper dissolved in 
a pint of lukewarm water. Teaspoonful doses of 
turpentine in raw linseed oil may be tried, but 
in cases where there is great inflammation of the 
mucous membranes of the stomachs and bowels, 
this seems to make matters worse. Raw eggs 
are always valuable in soothing this irritation. 

31. Porcupine Grass. 

Botanical name — Stipa. 

While over a hundred varieties of this grass 
are known to botanists, only one, "Sleepy Porcu- 
pine Grass," is known to be poisonous to sheep. 

This is commonly a native of the Southwest, 
abounding especially in southern Colorado, west- 
ern Texas, lower California, Arizona, and New 
Mexico. It grows at an elevation of from 5,000 
to 9,000 feet; is a very hardy plant, abo'ut three 
to five feet tall, with peculiar long, flat leaf-blades, 
hence the name "porcupine grass." The stalks 
and leaves are bright green, and the seeds very 
coarse. 



208 SHEEP DISEASES. 

Only when the animals are very hungry or the 
feed extremely scarce will sheep eat it. 

The symptoms of poisoning are insidious, but 
not particularly fatal. The animal becomes 
droopy and appears sleepy. Finally, it lies down, 
and to the inexperienced, the band is minus an- 
other sheep. However, in a little while, depend- 
ing on the amount eaten, the victim awakes and 
trots off as though nothing had happened. 

32. Uncommon Plant Poisonings. 

Occasionally a plant will cause trouble in some 
locality that is not known generally. Also, one 
comes into contact with poison cases that have 
occurred in almost unheard of manners. Even 
in the west, on one forest range, a peculiar 
grass, such as "bear grass," may be found on 
one side of the mountains, causing much trouble ; 
while on the other side it is unheard of. Many 
local poisons have not been touched upon for the 
reason that space forbids. 

It requires often the utmost skill to unravel 
cases that at first defy diagnosis. Eliminating 
spoiled food, acute infectious diseases, parasites, 
nearly all range enzootics can be traced to some 
poison ingested in the food or water. 

In every case where the diagnosis is shrouded 
in mystery, the sheep should be moved to other 
quarters and given different food and water. 
These two precautions will often work wonders. 
An investigation can then be made. 

In some parts of the northwest, two plants 



Original water color from collection in 
Smithsonian Institution by Walpole 




HOENa :u BALTIC 



ACONITE {Aconitum Cohimbianutn) 

MONK'S HOOD 
"Permission IVill C. Barnes 'Western Grazing Grounds and Forest Ranges ' 



POISONS. 209 

found among the foothills of the summer ranges 
have been condemned by sheep men as poisonous. 
These are the Scutellaria or skullcap, and a form 
of wild pea, with small white flowers. Poisoning 
from these usually occurs in the early spring, and 
perhaps they are only harmful when ingested in 
large quantities by a hungry animal. 

In the eastern part of the United States, poke- 
root, corn cockle, horse nettle, jimson weed, horse 
chestnut and the castor bean have all caused oc- 
casional deaths among sheep. It is not common, 
however, and the animal is dead before discov- 
ered, as a rule. The treatment for these cases, 
if they are discovered in time, consists of large 
doses of tannic acid dissolved in water. 

In the central states, especially in the river 
valleys, wild or blue pea has caused some fatal- 
ities. It may be said, with safety, that almost 
every vicinity, even neighborhood, where sheep 
are kept, has its peculiar poisonous plants. 

In all cases, however, the treatment is nearly 
the same. Large doses of some form of alcohol, 
tannic acid, or potassium permanganate may be 
given. 

C. ANIMAL POISONS. 

Sheep are practically immune to this class of 
poison, as under this head are found snake bites, 
insect stings, caterpillars and grubs taken in the 
food, and cantharides or Spanish fly. 

As the sheep is such a dainty eater it is not 
troubled by ingesting animal poisons, and the 
others have no deleterious effect on the sheep. 



SECTION XXIV. 

PREDATORY ANIMALS. 



While all live stock suffer from the depreda- 
tions of predatory animals, the sheep man is a 
heavier loser than the owner of other domesti- 
cated animals. In the eastern states the mongrel 
dog has nearly ruined the industry; in the west- 
ern states, where sheep are raised by the million, 




Coyote Killers — The Russian wolf hound is a 
favorite with coyote hunters. 

a varied assortment of animal pests annoy the 
stockmen. 

Notwithstanding the bounties given by both the 
state ami live stock associations, it is not an 
exaggeration to say that over five million dollars ' 



210 



PREDATORY ANIMALS. 211 

worth of sheep are destroyed annually by preda- 
tory animals, in the west alone. Some years ago, 
when California offered a bounty of five dollars 
per coyote, over 70,000 were killed in one year, 
and to keep from being bankrupted, the state re- 
pealed the law. Last year, in less than nine 
months, nearly 15,000 coyotes were killed in Idaho 
and presented for bounty and the appropria- 
tion exhausted. Because these campaigns against 
predatory animals have been only sporadic they 
have allowed them to increase enormously during 
the past few years and become a serious menace 
to the live stock industry. If every state would 
offer a uniform bounty for the next ten years, 
these marauders would soon become practically 
exterminated. 

The chief predatory animals are the coyote, 
lynx, wild cat, cougar and wolf. The bear is 
classed as a sheep killer but is grouped in bad 
company, and prairie dogs are a nuisance in 
destroying the grass on the range where they 
abound. The coyote does as much damage as all 
the others combined, the wolf does not care much 
for mutton but is especially annoying to cattle- 
men. It is a common estimate in the west that 
a coyote destroys $100 worth of property a year, 
and a wolf $1,000. The mountain lion or cougar 
is the particular enemy of deer, one cougar kill- 
ing, on the average, fifty of these beautiful, timid 
animals a year. Only one bear, perhaps, out of 
a hundred turns "meat eater" and harms the 
stockman. 



212 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



Tlr 



1. The Coyote. 

durhdest, sneakin'est reptile thet lives" 



is the unanimous verdict of all western stock- 
men. This animal is a member of the clog family, 




Coyote. 



and has all the cunning attributes claimed for 
him by disgusted "buckaroos" who have ex- 
hausted their patience in trying to shoot, trap 
or poison him. 

While civilization drives the rest of wild animal 
life still farther back into the mountains, the 



PREDATORY AXTMALS. 



213 



coyote seems to appreciate the coming of the emi- 
grant. With the greatest of enjoyment he lives 
off of fat lamb or veal, and no cleric relishes 
chicken any better than he. In the most nnlooked 
for places, sometimes not forty rods from the 
barn, the coyote rears a husky family of five 
to ten young, and manages to support them in 



'V«» 





*'^ : ii-£- 



'V 



***• 



Tin: Old Wolf Shot and Helpless. 



comfort and affluence despite the high cost of 
living, which because of him is made even higher 
for all meat consumers. 

In the spring the coyote welcomes lambing 
time, and when the band of sheep are driven to the 
summer range he accompanies the outfit. Many 
a lamb in straying too far from its mother pro- 
vides a juicy dinner for the unseen but ever- 
present coyote. In the fall, he returns, invig- 



214 



SHEEP DISEASES. 



orated after a summer vacation in the mountains, 
and dines with regularity on turkey, duck or 
chicken. Too cunning to be trapped; too wily 
to be shot, the best way to get rid of him is to 
run the brute down with hounds. 



^^Mfcy*^ ,__ '■ • n 


r *'Bfc~^ 






•^jtc'^sSS 




^^^SES^m 


a^^t- : - 


HP'**' IHLIP ~* 


™ . -■ ^ 







Wolf Pups in Front of De.w 



In the past few years, in the northwest, coyotes 
have been spreading rabies to an alarming ex- 
tent. Due to this, the Federal government is just 
starting an all-western campaign against this 
animal, the worst enemy of the stockman in gen- 
eral, and the sheep raiser in particular. 



PREDATORY ANIMALS. 



215 



2. Wild Cat and Lynx. 

A " bobcat" getting among a band of sheep 
seems to kill for the sole pleasure of killing. A 
hundred or more sheep will be found dead, un- 
touched, save for the gash in the throat. 

They are very cowardly and shy, and for this 
reason do not perforin a great deal of damage. 




Wild Cat. 

Still, one bobcat with a taste for blood will make 
life a tragedy for any sheepman until it is 
destroyed. Bobcats are rather easily treed with 
good dogs; then they may be knocked in the head 
amid great rejoicing. 

In 1915 Idaho and Wyoming paid a bounty on 
over fifteen hundred wild cats and lynx. 



216 



SHEEP DISEASES. 




Lynx Cat Caught in Trap — Sopris National 
Forest, Colorado. 



3. Wolf and Cougar. 

Fortunately for sheepmen these two animals 
do not seem to relish mutton as much as they do 
deer, cattle and horses. 

The wolf is especially dangerous to the cattle- 
man, and often kills for mere pastime. It is very 
difficult to destroy, being almost as cunning as 
the coyote. They breed rapidly, and some sec- 
tions of the west are so infested with them it 
is almost impossible to raise horses or cattle. 

The cougar or mountain lion is a great coward, 
and shuns civilization. It does great damage to 
deer, and occasionally one develops a taste for 




Original water color from 

collection in Smithsonian 

Institution by Walpole 



Water Hemlock {acuta Vagans), 



"Permission Will C. Barnes 'Western Grazing Grounds and Forest Ranges ' 



PREDATORY ANIMALS. 



217 



young lamb. They usually stay close to some 
body of water where the deer come to drink, and 
kill one or two a week. 

The best way to hunt cougar is with good 
hounds, for when treed they make little effort to 
get away, resembling a cat in this respect. They 
are very powerful; one who has looked into the 
sneering face of a cougar treed by several dogs 
will never forget the sight. 

About one hundred wolves were killed in Idaho 
and Wyoming, and possibly a dozen cougars in 
1915. 

4. Bear. 




A Sheep-killixg Bear. 



This harmless animal is the victim of a bad 
name, due to an occasional bear turning "meat 
eater" and destroying stock with frightful rapid- 



218 SHEEP DISEASES. 

ity. The average bear, however, attends strictly 
to his own business, and keeps away from the 
white man as though the latter were a bill col- 
lector. 

Bears are often mischievous, and sometimes a 
sheepherder will return to his camp to find his 
light house-keeping outfit slightly mussed up and 
worse from wear after the visit of a prowling 
bear. The bacon and sugar will be among the 
things missing, and much profanity will be in- 
dulged in by the outraged herders. 

Bears are not predatory animals and should 
not be classed as such. 

5. Prairie Dog. 

This pest merely destroys the range. It has 
been estimated thirty-two of these busy little 
animals will eat as much grass as one sheep and 
as a single village contains thousands of these 
rodents, it can readily be seen how destructive 
they really are. 

They are combatted with poisoned grain, and 
in the early spring, when the grass is scarce, 
this method kills them by the thousand. 



SECTION XXV. 

QUARANTINE AND TRANSPORTA- 
TION REGULATIONS. 

There was a time not many years ago when 
all government and state regulations regarding 
live stock inspection was looked upon as "fool 
red tape." In "them good old days" an un- 
scrupulous and bull-headed man could drive a 
band of scabby sheep wherever he desired so 
long as he kept out of reach of the bullets from 
angry cattle men or sheep men. State lines, forest 
preserves, scab eradication, quarantines and su- 
pervision of live stock were Greek to him. ' ' They 
ain't no sech thing as germs," he would laugh 
and drive on. 

But a new era approached. Successful stock- 
men began to see what a quarantine would do 
in the control of contagious diseases, such as 
scab. The benefits accruing from laws designed 
to curb the migrations of lawless, careless men 
who cared little how much infection they scat- 
tered, were self-evident. This sentiment grew 
in favor, until the western sheep raising states 
have the most stringent regulations in the coun- 
try. These laws have been enacted by the sheep- 
men themselves and are models of clear, common- 
sense rules, designed to be of the greatest bene- 
fit to the greatest number. 

219 



220 SHEEP DISEASES. 

It is true there has been friction. Sometimes 1 
an officious, undiplomatic "two-bit" government 
inspector was sent out from the extreme eastern 
part of our country. Not being familiar with 
the rough and ready methods of the west he be- 
came about as popular as smallpox. In other 
cases, ignorant and dishonest state officials, ap- 
pointed through political trickery and not because 
of merit, made enemies among the better class of 
sheep men. Oftentimes sheep raisers without 
any regard or reason for sensible laws caused 
trouble. These three factors have caused more 
or less turmoil, but it is fast dying down. 

To keep sheep free from seal) or other conta- 
gious diseases has proven to be the greatest boon 
to the industry. To be able to call in expert as- 
sistance to diagnose some mysterious malady or 
enzootic at the beginning of the trouble has been 
of inestimable benefit. To enforce these laws 
designed for the good of the greatest number 
has been the duty of the government and state. 

Within the boundaries of its own borders, 
the laws of a state are supreme. When move- 
ments of live stock occur between the states, con- 
stituting ' ' interstate commerce, ' ' the Federal gov- 
ernment is the master. Therefore, by govern- 
ment regulations, a state that will not conform to 
reasonable rules cannot ship out of the state into 
another, and is, therefore, by indirection com- 
pelled to comply with Federal regulations, even 
in matters that are essentially intrastate. 

Ten years ago over twelve million sheep were 
dipped under the government supervision per 



QUARANTINE AND TRANSPORTATION. 221 

year, while unnumbered thousands were dipped 
by state officials. The results of this campaign 
have been so good that but little scab now re- 
mains in this country. 

1. Federal Regulations. 

The Acts of February 2, 1903, and March 3, 
1905, regulating the movement of sheep from one 
state to another, are largely responsible for 
eradicating the scab from our country. 

To illustrate the stringency of these regula- 
tions the text in full is herewith given : 

REGULATION 4. TO PREVENT THE SPREAD 
OF SCABIES IN SHEEP. 

(Acts of Feb. 2, 1903, and Mar. 3, 1905.) 
MOVEMENT OF SHEEP AFFECTED WITH SCABIES. 

Section 1. Paragraph 1. — No sheep which are diseased 
with scabies shall be shipped, trailed, or otherwise removed, 
or allowed to drift, from one State or the District of Columbia 
into another State or the District of Columbia, except as 
hereinafter provided, and no sheep shall be shipped, trailed, 
or otherwise removed, or allowed to drift, from a State or a 
portion thereof quarantined for the disease of scabies in 
sheep into another State or the District of Columbia except 
as hereinafter provided. 

Paragraph 2. — No sheep shall be trailed or driven or hauled 
in private conveyances from the quarantined area in any 
State to any point in the same State not included in the 
quarantined area and subsequently delivered to a transporta- 
tion company for shipment to any other State or the District 
of Columbia until the sheep shall have been inspected by an 
inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry and found to be 
free from disease and from exposure thereto, and are accom- 
panied by a certificate from the said inspector. 

Paragraph 3. — All of the sheep in a certain flock or ship- 
ment in which the disease is present shall be classed as dis- 
eased sheep, and none of them shall be removed or offered 
for interstate shipment until dipped as hereinafter provided. 
The practice of "picking" a flock — that is, removing any sheep 
which are visibly diseased and then offering any portion of 
the remaining sheep for either inspection or interstate ship- 
ment, or both— is directly and positively prohibited. 



222 SHEEP DISEASES. 



SHEEP EXPOSED IN TRANSIT. 

Section 2. Healthy sheep in an area not quarantined for the 
disease of scabies in sheep which have not been exposed to 
the disease by coming in contact with diseased sheep or in- 
fectious premises may be shipped or trailed interstate without 
restriction by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture 
to prevent the spread of scabies in sheep; but if said sheep 
be unloaded en route or at destination and are placed in in- 
fectious premises they shall thereafter be treated as exposed 
sheep and shall not be forwarded to destination for purposes 
other than immediate slaughter until they shall have been 
dipped, under the supervision of an inspector of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry. 

MOVEMENT OF SHEEP FOR IMMEDIATE SLAUGHTER 
AND FOR STOCKING AND FEEDING. 

Section 3. Paragraph 1. — Sheep that are diseased with 
scabies and that have been dipped once in a permitted dip 
under the supervision of an inspector of the Bureau of Animal 
Industry within 10 days of date of shipment may be shipped 
interstate for immediate slaughter to a recognized slaughter- 
ing center, and when so shipped the said sheep shall not be 
diverted en route and shall be slaughtered within two weeks 
after arrival at destination. If diseased sheep are to be 
shipped interstate for stocking or feeding purposes they shall 
be dipped twice as above indicated, 10 days apart, and shall 
be submitted to inspection before shipment. 

Paragraph 2. — Sheep that are not diseased with scabies but 
which have been exposed to the contagion of the disease may 
be moved interstate for feeding or stocking purposes after one 
dipping, or they may be shipped interstate by rail or boat 
to a recognized slaughtering center for immediate slaughter 
without dipping. 

TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR DISEASED 
AND EXPOSED SHEEP. 

Section 4. When diseased sheep have been dipped once 
and are shipped interstate for slaughter in accordance with 
section 3, paragraph 1, or when exposed sheep are shipped 
interstate without dipping for immediate slaughter in accord- 
ance with section 3, paragraph 2, the transportation company 
shall affix to both sides of each car or boat a durable placard 
not less than 5V 2 by 8 inches in size, on which shall be printed 
with permanent black ink in bold-face letters not less than 
1% inches in height the words "DIPPED SCABBY SHEEP" 
or "EXPOSED SHEEP FOR SLAUGHTER," as the case may 
be. These placards shall also show the name of the place 
from which the shipment was made, the date of the shipment 
(which must correspond with the date of the waybills and 
other papers), the name of the transportation company, and 
the name of the place of destination. Each of the waybills, con- 
ductors' manifests, memoranda, and bills of lading pertain- 



QUARANTINE AND TRANSPORTATION. 223 

ing to such shipments by cars or boats shall have the words 
"DIPPED SCABBY SHEEP" or "EXPOSED SHEEP FOR 
SLAUGHTER," as the case may be, written or stamped upon 
its face. Whenever such shipments are transferred to another 
transportation company or into other cars or boats, or are 
rebilled or reconsigned to a point other than the original 
destination the cars or boats into which said sheep are trans- 
ferred and the new waybills, conductors' manifests, memo- 
randa, and bills of lading covering such shipments by cars 
or boats shall be marked as herein specified for cars or boats 
first carrying said sheep and for the billing, etc., covering 
the same. If for any reason the placards required by this 
regulation are removed from the car or boat or are destroyed 
or rendered illegible, they shall be immediately replaced by 
the transportation company or its agents, the intention being 
that legible placards shall be maintained on the cars or 
boats from the time of shipment until they arrive at destination, 
and the disposition of the cars or boats is indicated by an 
inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry. 

PERMITTED DIPS. 

Section 5. Paragraph 1.— The dip at present permitted by 
the department for the treatment under official supervision 
of sheep affected with or exposed to scabies is the lime-sul- 
phur dip made in the proportion of 8 pounds of unslaked lime 
(or 11 pounds of commercial hydrated lime — not air-slaked 
lime) and 24 pounds of flowers of sulphur to 100 gallons of 
water. The dipping bath should be used at a temperature 
of 100° to 105° F., and must at all times be maintained at a 
strength of not less than iy 2 per cent of "sulphid sulphur," 
as indicated by the Bureau of Animal Industry field test for 
lime-sulphur baths. 

Paragraph 2. — A proprietary brand of lime-sulphur solution 
may be used in official dipping only after specific permission 
therefor has been issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry. 
No dip other than the lime-sulphur dip will hereafter be given 
department permission for use in the official dipping of sheep 
for scabies unless it has been shown to the satisfaction of 
the Bureau of Animal Industry (1) that the strength of the 
bath prepared therefrom may be satisfactorily determined in 
the field by a practical portable testing outfit; (2) that, under 
actual field conditions, the dipping of sheep in a bath of def- 
inite strength will effectually eradicate scabies infection with- 
out injury to the animals dipped. 

LOSSES FROM DIPPING. 

Section 6. The dipping shall be done carefully and the 
sheep handled as humanely as possible. The department dis- 
claims responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from 
dipping, and those who wish to avoid any risks that may be 
incident to dipping at the stockyards, as well as to avoid 
liability to prosecution, should see that their sheep are free 
from disease before shipping them to market. 



224 SHEEP DISEASES. 



SHEEP DISEASED OR EXPOSED IN TRANSIT. 

Section 7. Sheep shipped interstate under a certificate from 
an inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry are not guaran- 
teed uninterrupted transit, for in the event of the discovery 
of scabies or of exposure thereto en route the sheep shall there- 
after be handled as diseased or exposed sheep, as hereinbefore 
provided, and the cars or other vehicles and the chutes, alleys, 
and pens which have been occupied by them shall be cleaned 
and disinfected, as hereinafter provided in section 9 of this 
regulation. 

i SHIPMENTS FROM PUBLIC STOCKYARDS. 

Section 8. Paragraph 1. — Public stockyards shall be con- 
sidered infectious and the sheep yarded therein as having 
been exposed to the disease, and no sheep shall be shipped 
interstate therefrom, except for immediate slaughter, without 
dipping. Where, however, a part of all of the stockyards is 
reserved and set apart for the reception of uninfected ship- 
ments of sheep and is kept free of disease, sheep may be 
shipped interstate from the uninfectious yards or portions 
thereof without dipping. 

Paragraph 2. — If diseased sheep are introduced into the 
uninfectious yards or portions thereof, they shall be imme- 
diately removed therefrom and the chutes, alleys, and pens 
occupied by the said sheep shall be thoroughly cleaned and 
disinfected. No sheep shall be shipped interstate from any 
stockyards where an inspector of the Bureau of Animal In- 
dustry is stationed without a certificate of inspection or of 
dipping issued by the said inspector. 

DISINFECTION OF CARS, PREMISES, ETC. 

Section 9. Cars and other vehicles, yards, pens, sheds, 
chutes, etc., that have contained diseased sheep shall be cleaned 
and disinfected in the following manner: Remove all litter 
and manure and then saturate the interior surfaces of the 
cars and woodwork, flooring, and ground of the chutes, alleys, 
and pens with a solution made with 6 ounces of 95 per cent 
pure carbolic acid to each gallon of water, or a solution con- 
taining 4 ounces of cresol compound U. S. P. to each gallon 
of water. When either disinfectant is used sufficient lime 
(not to exceed 1% pounds per gallon) should be added to show 
where it has been applied. Cars and premises are not re- 
quired to be cleaned and disinfected on account of their hav- 
ing contained "dipped scabby sheep" that have been dipped 
within 10 days or sheep that have been exposed to scabies. 

AMENDMENT 6 TO B. A. I. ORDER 210. 

Effective on and after February J, 1916. 
United States Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Secretary. 
Under authority conferred upon the Secretary of Agricul- 
ture by the provisions of the acts of Congress approved May 



QUARANTINE AND TRANSPORTATION. 225 

29, 1884 (23 Stat., 31), February 2, 1903 (32 Stat, 791), and 
March 3, 1905 (33 Stat., 1264), as amended by the act ap- 
proved March 4, 1913 (37 Stat., 828, 831), it is ordered that 
regulation 1, section 4; regulation 2, sections 4 and 8; regula- 
tion 3, section 12; regulation 4, section 9; regulation 5, sec- 
tions 2 and 3; and regulation 7, section 2, of B. A. I. Order 
210, "Regulations Governing the Interstate Movement of Live 
Stock," dated May 20, 1914, and effective July 1, 1914, as 
amended, be, and the same are hereby, further amended so 
as to permit the use of "saponified cresol solution" as a sub- 
stitute for compound solution of cresol U. S. P. in the disin- 
fection of cars, boats, other vehicles, and premises that have # 
contained live stock affected with a contagious or communi- 
cable disease, for the disinfection of swine to prevent the 
spread of hog cholera and swine plague, and for preparing 
a dressing for sheep to prevent the spread of lip-and-leg 
ulceration (necrobacillosis) ; provided, however, that such 
saponified cresol solution shall conform to the following re- 
quirement: 

1. The formula of the product shall employ not less than 
28 per cent by weight of linseed oil. Either caustic potash, 
caustic soda, or a mixture of caustic potash and caustic soda 
may be used to saponify the linseed oil. The cresol used 
must be at least 95 per cent pure, and enough of this com- 
mercial grade of cresol (cresylic acid) must be employed in 
compounding the disinfectant to bring the actual amount of 
cresol in the finished product up to 50 per cent. 

2. The product shall remain a homogeneous liquid when 
cooled to 32° F. It shall contain substantially no unsaponified 
linseed oil or excess alkali. It shall be readily soluble in 
cold distilled water; the solution shall be practically clear 
and shall contain no globules of undissolved oil or cresylic 
acid. 

3. Manufacturers wishing to offer saponified cresol solution 
as indicated above for use in official disinfection must first 
submit a sample of at least 8 ounces for examination, together 
with a statement of the formula employed and a guaranty that 
the product will be maintained of a quality uniform with the 
sample submitted. 

4. To prevent confusion, each product must bear a dis- 
tinctive trade name or brand, together with the name of the 
manufacturer or distributor. 1 There shall be no mention of 
the United States Department of Agriculture or the Bureau 
of Animal Industry on the labels, containers, or printed 
matter accompanying products permitted to be used in offi- 



U "Rule to prevent the spread of scabies in sheep" is in ef- 
fect through the entire year. This rule prescribes the quar- 
antined area in the respective States and should be considered 
in connection with these regulations. Copies of the rule may 
be obtained from the Chief of the Bureau of Animal Industry, 
Washington, D. C. 



226 SHEEP DISEASES. 



cial disinfection. The permitted saponified cresol solution 
shall be used at a dilution of at least 4 ounces of the solution 
to 1 gallon of water. 

It is further ordered that the regulations hereinbefore speci- 
fied be, and the same are, modified and amended to permit 
the use of substances for disinfecting infectious cars, boats, 
other vehicles, and premises, as follows: 

Compound solution of cresol U. S. P., or a specifically per- 
mitted brand of "saponified cresol solution," at a dilution of 
at least 4 fluid ounces to 1 gallon of water, or liquefied phenol 
U. S. P. (liquefied carbolic acid) at a dilution of at least 6 
fluid ounces to 1 gallon of water, without the addition of lime 
to show where the solution has been applied. Chlorid of lime 
U. S. P. (strength, 30 per cent available chlorin). This chlorid 
of lime solution to be used at a dilution of 1 pound of chlorid 
of lime to 3 gallons of water. 

Amendment 5 to B. A. I. Order 210, dated September 17, 
1915, shall cease to be effective February 1, 1916, on and after 
which date this amendment, which for the purpose of identi- 
fication is designated as Amendment 6 to B. A. I. Order 210, 
shall be effective. 

Done at Washington this 20th day of January, 1916. 

Witness my hand and the seal of the Department of Agri- 
culture. 

D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. 

Section 5. Paragraph 1. — The dips at present permitted by 
the department for the treatment, under official supervision, 
of sheep affected with or exposed to scabies are as follows: 

Lime-sulphur dip made in the proportion of S pounds of 
unslaked lime (or 11 pounds of commercial hydrated lime — 
not air-slaked lime) and 24 pounds of flowers of sulphur or 
sulphur flour to 100 gallons of water. 

Nicotin dip containing not less than five one-hundredths 
of 1 per cent of nicotin, provided there is added thereto to 
prevent reinfection 2 per cent of flowers of sulphur or sulphur 
flour. 

The dipping bath should be used at a temperature of 100° 
to 105° F., and must at all times be maintained at a strength 
of not less than 1V 2 per cent of "sulphid sulphur" in the case 
of the lime-sulphur dip, and not less than five one-hundredths 
of 1 per cent of nicotin in the case of the nicotin dip as in- 
dicated by the field tests for such baths approved by the 
Bureau of Animal Industry. 

This amendment, which for the purpose of identification is 
designated as Amendment 4 to B. A. I. Order 210, shall be 
effective on and after March 1, 1915. 

Done at Washington this 20th day of February, 1915. 

Witness my hand and the seal of the Department of Agri- 
culture. 

D. F. Houston, Secretary of Agriculture. 



QUARANTINE AND TRANSPORTATION. 227 

2. State Regulations. 

State laws in regard to sheep are continually 
changing due to unforeseen contingencies. The 
most attention has been given state inspection 
in the Rocky Mountain region, which is the home 
of perhaps one-half the sheep in this country. 

In brief, the laws of the several states may be 
summarized as follows : 

1. Those states at present having no laws re- 
garding the admission of sheep into their boun- 
daries from other states are : Arkansas, Con- 
necticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, 
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mis- 
souri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Okla- 
homa, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and 
Virginia. 

2. Those states requiring a "health certifi- 
cate," at present, are: Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, 
Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, 
North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, 
South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and 
West Virginia. 

3. Those requiring compliance to Federal reg- 
ulations, at present, are : Arizona, California, 
Colorado and Florida. 

4. States accepting only their own officials' 
inspection and dipping the sheep before entering 
their boundaries if from a state under Federal 
quarantine, at present, are : Idaho, Montana, Ne- 
vada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. 

Space forbids giving the state laws at length; 
and, furthermore, they are of interest to only 
a limited number. 



228 SHEEP DISEASES. 

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS CONSULTED. 

Hutyra and Marek's Pathology. 

Friedberger and Frohner's Pathology. 

Moore's Pathology. 

Kinsley's Pathology. 

Sisson's Anatomy. 

Moller's Surgery. 

William's Obstetrics. 

Quitman's Materia Medica. 

Craig's Sheep Farming. 

Wing's Sheep Farming in America. 

Kleinheinz's Sheep Management. 

Stewart's Shepherds' Manual. 

Barnes' Western Grazing Grounds. 

BULLETINS. 

No. 20, Div. of Botany, U. S. Dept. Agr. 

No. 20, Div. Bureau Animal Industry. 

Farmers' Bulletin 575 

Farmers' Bulletin 713. 

No. 88, Wyo. Exp. Sta. 

No. 99, Wyo. Exp. Sta. 

No. 113, Colo. Exp. Sta. 

No. 211, Colo. Exp. Sta. 

No. 86, Ida. Exp. Sta. 

PERIODICALS. 

American Journal of Veterinary Medicine. 
American Sheep Breeder. 
Breeder's Gazette. 
National Wool Grower. 
The Country Gentleman. 



INDEX 



Aconite, poisoning by 193 

Aconitum 193 

Abdominal dropsy 121 

Abnormalities of the milk. .143 
Abortion, contagious . . .96, 139 

Abortion, enzootic 139 

Abortion, sporadic or 

accidental 139 

Abscesses 149 

Accidental abortion 139 

Acetabulum 55 

Acne 128 

Actinomyces bovis 9(5 

Actinomycosis 96 

Acute infectious diseases. . . 84 
Administering medicines . . 76 

Adrenals 59 

Alkali poisons 183 

Alopecia 127 

Amputation of the claws. . .151 

Anatomy 53 

Anemia 99 

Animal poisons 209 

Animals, predatory 210 

Anthracemia 84 

Anthrax 84 

Anthrax, symptomatic 87 

Anus, imperforate 132 

Apoplexy 124 

Aphthae epizooticae 90 

Aragallus lamberti 191 

Argali 15 

Arsenical poisoning, acute. .180 
Arsenical poisoning, 

chronic 180 

Arterial system 01 

Ascites 121 

Ascites, sanguineous 100 

Astragalus mollissimus ...191 
Agalactia 144 

Bacillus anthracis 84 

Bacillus bipolaris septicus.133 
Bacillus coli 

communis 133, 135 



Bacillus cyanogenus 144 

Bacillus edematis maligni. . 85 

Bacillus necrophorus 97 

Bacillus necrosis 152 

Bacillus ovisepticus 88 

Bacillus prodigiosu* 144 

Bacillus pseudotuberculosis 

ovis 95 

Bacillus synxanthum 144 

Bacillus tetani 92 

Baldness 127 

Bacterium Chauveaui 87 

Bacterium tuberculosis .... 95 

Bear 217 

Bearded grasses 206 

Belly-ache 116 

Bibliography 228 

Big head 131 

Big jaw 96 

Bile duct 58 

Black-faced highland 52 

Blackleg 87 

Black quarter 87 

Bladder 59 

Bladder, paralysis of the. . .122 
Bladder, puncture of the. . .150 

Blasting 112 

Bleeding from the nose .... 108 

Bloat 112 

Blood, diseases of the 99 

Blood poisoning 98, 133 

Blood, quantity of 61 

Bloody urine 147 

Blow-fly 165 

Blue bag 143 

Blue bean 192 

Blue milk 144 

Bot-fly 168 

Bowels, inflammation of 

the 117 

Bowels, impaction of the. . .115 

Bow-legs 102 

Bradsot 87 

Brain, concussion of the... 148 
Brain, diseases of the 124 



229 



230 



INDEX 



Braxy 87 

Breeds, classification of . . . . 24 

Breeds, history of the 15 

Breeds, lesser known 51 

Bronchitis, non-parasitic . . 109 

Bronchitis, verminous 109 

Buck, care of the 73 

Buckwheat rash 128 

Bulletins consulted 228 

Calculi, renal 105 

Calculi, urinary 74, 140 

Calendar, shepherd's 08 

Caked bag 143 

Camas, death 190 

Canine rage 93 

Canker of the foot 152 

Carbolic acid 81 

Carbolic acid poisoning. . . .183 

Carceag 97 

Care, general 04 

Care of the buck 73 

Care of the ewe 09 

Care of the lamb 71 

Carpal joints 56 

Carpus 54 

Carrying sheep 67 

Caseous lymphadenitis 95 

Castration of lambs 72 

Catarrh, nasal 108, 168 

Catarrhal fever 88 

Catarrhal fever, malarial.. 97 

Catching sheep 00 

Cecum 58 

Cheeks 56 

Cheviot 39 

Chilled lambs 71 

Chlorid of lime 81 

Choke Ill 

Choke cherry, poisoning by. 195 

Cicuta occidentalis 194 

Circulatory organs, diseases 

of the .• 106 

Circulatory system 61 

Classification of breeds.... 24 

Claviceps purpurea 197 

Claws, amputation of the.. 151 
Claws, erythema of the. . . .128 

Clog 115 

Cochlearia armoracia 204 

Colic 116 

Colon 58 

Common salt poisoning. . . .184 
Common scab 154 



Concussion of the brain .... 148 

Conium maculatum 203 

Congenital defects of lambs. 132 
Congestion of the lungs. . . .109 

Constipation 115 

Consumption 95 

Contagious abortion ...96, 139 

Convulsions 124 

Copper poisoning 181 

Cord, diseases of the 124 

Corriedale 51 

Cotswold 48 

Cotton seed meal, poisoning 

by 201 

Cougar 216 

Cowbane 194 

Coyote 213 

Cranium 53 

Cross-bred sheep 52 

Croton oil, poisoning by... 203 

Croupous enteritis 118 

Curdling milk 144 

Cvstic kidnevs 123, 105 

Cystitis 105 

• lystSj abdominal 123 

Deadly nightshade 

poisoning by 198 

Death camas, poisoning by. 190 
Decomposition of the fetus. 140 

Defects, congenital 132 

Delphinum 192 

Diabetes 103 

Diaphragm 56 

Diarrhea 117 

Diarrhea, infectious 135 

Diarrhea, non-contagious . .134 

Digestive system 56 

Digestive svstem, diseases 

of the . .' Ill 

Digitalis poisoning 202 

Digits 55 

Dipping 157 

Dipping, losses from 223 

Dip, lime and sulphur 157 

Dip, nicotin 161 

Dip, tobacco 161 

Dips 77 

Dips permitted by 

government 223 

Diseases and exposed sheep 
transportation require- 
ments for 222 

Diseases, acute infections.. 84 



INDEX 



231 



Diseases of the blood 90 

Diseases of the brain and 

cord 124 

Diseases of the circulatory 

organs 106 

Diseases of the digestive 

system Ill 

Diseases of the ewe 138 

Diseases of the heart 

valvular 107 

Diseases of the lamb 132 

Diseases of the liver 120 

Diseases of metabolism . . . 102 
Diseases of obscure origin . .130 
Diseases of the organ of 

locomotion 120 

Diseases of the peritoneum . 121 
Diseases of rambs and 

wethers 140 

Diseases of the respiratory 

organs 108 

Diseases of the skin, non- 
parasitic 127 

Diseases of the urinary 

organs 104 

Diseases, parasitic 153 

Diseases, surgical 148 

Diseased teeth 148 

Disinfectants 81 

Disinfection of cars, 

premises, etc 224 

Dislocations 151 

Disorders of gestation 138 

Displacement of the uterus. 141 

Distoma hepaticum 173 

Distomatosis 173 

Dorset 43 

Dosage of medicines 77 

Drenching 70 

Dropsy, abdominal 121 

Dropsy of the pericardium. 106 
Drugs frequently used. 

table of '. 78 

Drying up 115 

Dry rot 121, 154 

Dry scab 154 

Dysenteria neonatorium . . .135 

Dysentery 117 

Dystocia' 139 

Ear 61 

Eating wool 102 

Echinococcus polymorphous. 105 
Eclampsia 125, 142 



Eczema 128 

Edema malignum 85 

Elbow joint 55 

Emergency medicine case. . . 80 
Emergency treatment in 

poisoning 188 

Emphysema, gangrenous ... 87 

Encephalitis 124 

Ensilage poisoning 206 

Enteritis 117 

Enteritis, croupous 118 

Enteritis, mycotic 118 

Enteritis, non-toxic 117 

Enteritis, toxic 119 

Enzootic abortion 130 

Epididymis 60 

Epilepsy 124 

Epistaxis 108 

Epsom salt poisoning 184 

Ergot, poisoning by 197 

Erysipelas 154 

Erythema of the claws.... 128 
Esophagostomuin 

Columbianum 175 

Esophagus 58 

Esophagus, obstruction of 

the Ill 

Estrum 69 

Estrus ovis 100, 168 

Ethmoid 53 

Ewe, care of the 69 

Ewe. diseases of the 138 

Ewe, restraint of. during 

parturition 139 

Extensors 56 

External parasites 154 

Eye 61 

Face 53 

Falling out of wool 127 

Fallopian tubes 60 

Fardel bound 115 

Fasciola hepaticum 173 

Fat scab 128 

Fatty milk 144 

Federal regulations 221 

Feeding 67 

Female genital organs 60 

Femur 55 

Fermenting milk 144 

Fetus, decomposition of 

the 140 

Fetuses, mummified 123 

Fibula 55 



232 



INDEX 



Fine wools, the 24 

Fits 124 

Flax poisoning 204 

Fleas 166 

Flies 16(5 

Foot-and-mouth disease ... i)0 

Foot, canker of the 152 

Foot rot 97 

Foot scab 163 

Formalin 81 

Fractures 151 

Frontals 53 

Front limb 54 

Fur-bearing sbeep 51 

Gangrenous emphysema . . 87 

Gastromycosis ovis 87 

General care 64 

Genital organs, female .... 60 

Genital organs, male . 60 

Gestation 69 

Gestation, disorders of 138 

Gid 124, 167 

Glanders 96 

Glauber's salt poisoning. .. 184 

Gleet 168 

Grapes 95 

Grasses, bearded 20(i 

Grass staggers 115 

Gravel 14(3 

Greasy heels 128 

Grub 'in the head 108 

Hampshire 36 

Handling (i(i 

Head, grub in the 168 

Head scab 163 

Heart, valvular diseases 

of the 107 

Heart 61 

Heart, hypertrophy of the. 107 

Heat stroke 124 

Helenium montanum 199 

Hellebore 190 

Hematuria 104 

Hematuria-ictero 97 

Hemlock poisoning 203 

Hemorrhage from the nose. 108 
Hemorrhage, umbilical .... 132 
Hemorrhagic septicemia ... 88 

Hepatitis . 120 

Hernia . ..132, 146 

Highland, black-faced 52 



Hip joint 56 

History of the breeds 15 

Hock joint 56 

Hoose 169 

Horse radish poisoning. . . .204 

Hoven 112 

Humerus 54 

Husk 169 

Hydrometra 123 

Hydrophobia 93 

Hydrops ascites 121 

Hygiene 63 

Hvmenoxvs floribunda 200 

Hyoid . .' 54 

Hyoid muscles 56 

Hypertrophy of the heart. .107 
Hypodermic medication ... 77 

Ictero-hematuria 97 

Icterus 120 

Ilia 55 

Immediate slaughter, sheep 

for 222 

Impaction of the bowels. . . .115 
Impaction of the rumen. . . . 114 

Imperforate anus . 132 

Impotence 147 

Indian poke root .196 

Infectious diarrhea 135 

Infectious diseases, acute . . 84 
Inflammation of the bowels. 117 
Inflammation of the 

kidneys 105 

Inflammation of the liver. . .120 
Inflammation of the lungs. .109 
Inflammation of the 

pleura 110 

Inflammation of the udder . . 143 
Inflammation of the womb 

or uterus .142 

Injuries 149 

Internal parasites 166 

Interparietals 53 

Intertrigo 128 

Intestines 58 

Ischium 55 

Itch, non-parasitic 127 

Ivy 196 

Japp disease 109 

Jaundice 120 

Joint-ill 133 

Joints 55 



INDEX 



233 



Kafir corn, poisoning by»..205 

Kalmia angustifolia 196 

Kalmia latifolia 196 

Karakul 51 

Kent 51 

Kidneys 59 

Kidneys, cystic 105 

Kidneys, inflammation of 
the ' 105 

Lamb, care of the 71 

Lamb, diseases of the 132 

Lambing 70 

Lambing, difficult 139 

Lambkill 190 

Lambs, castration of 72 

Lambs, chilled 71 

Lambs, pustular eruption 

of 137 

Lambs, reviving 

"lifeless" 71, 132 

Lambs, weaning of 73 

Lacrimal bone 54 

Laminitis 114 

Larynx 58 

Larkspur, poisoning by.... 192 

Laurel, poisoning by 196 

Leading sheep 66 

Lead poisoning, acute 178 

Lead poisoning, chronic. . . . 179 

Leicester 44 

Lice 165 

Ligaments 55 

Ligamentum nuchae 55 

Limb, front 54 

Limb, pelvic 55 

Lime and sulphur dip 157 

Lime poisoning 185 

Lincoln 48 

Linum usitatissimum 204 

Lip-and-leg ulceration .... 97 

Lips 56 

Liquor cresolis compound . . 81 

Liver 58 

Liver, diseases of the 120 

Liver-fluke 173 

Liver, inflammation of the. 120 

Liver rot 173 

Loading sheep 67 

Lobelia 190 

Lockjaw 92 

Locomotory organs, diseases 

of 126 

Loco, poisoning by 191 



Long wools, the 44 

Louping-ill 130 

Lucilia macellaria 165 

Lumpy jaw 96 

Lung fever 109 

Lung worms 169 

Lungs 59 

Lungs, congestion of the. . .109 
Lungs, inflammation of the. 109 

Lupine, poisoning by 192 

Lupinosis 120 

Lupinus 192 

Lymphadenitis, ovine 

caseous 95 

Lymph system 61 

Lynx . . .' 215 

Lyssa 93 

Mad-dog 93 

Mad-staggers 130 

Maggots 165 

Malar bone 54 

Malarial catarrhal fever. . . 97 

Male genital organs 60 

Malignant edema 85 

Malignant pustule 84 

Mammary glands 60 

Mammitis 143 

Mandible 54 

Mange 154 

Masseter 56 

Mastitis 143 

Maxilla 54 

Meconium, retention of the. 133 
Medicines and their 

administration 75 

Medicine case, emergency . . 80 

Medicines, dosage of 77 

Medium wools, the 31 

Melophagus ovinus 163 

Mercurial poisoning 182 

Mercuric chlorid 81 

Merino 24 

Metabolism, diseases of . . . .102 
Metacarpophalangeal 

joints 56 

Metacarpus 55 

Metatarsus 55 

Meteorism 112 

Metritis 142 

Miescher's tubules 175 

Milk, abnormalities of the. 143 

Milk, absence of 144 

Milk analvsis 72 



234 



INDEX 



Milk, blue 144 

Milk, curdling 144 

Milk disease 142 

Milk, fatty 144 

Milk, fermenting 144 

Milk, foreign matter in.. . .145 

Milk, putrescent 144 

Milk, red 144 

Milk, slimy, stringy 

and soapy 144 

Milk, watery 144 

Milk, yellow 144 

Mineral acid poisoning 183 

Mineral poisons 178 

Monieza (Taenia) alba. . . . 174 
Monieza (Taenia) expansa.174 

Monkshood 193 

Mouflon 15 

Muscular system 56 

Musimon 15 

Mycosis intestinal is 84 

Mycotic enteritis 118 

Xasal catarrh 108 

Xasal bones 54 

Xasal cavitv 58 

Xavel-ill . .' 133 

Xecrotic stomatitis 137 

Xephritis 105 

Xervous system 61 

"Xibbling" disease 130 

Xicotiana 202 

Xicotin dip 161 

Nodular disease 175 

Xon-contagious diarrhea ... 134 
Xon-parasitic bronchitis . . .100 
Xon-parasitic diseases of 

the skin 127 

Xon-parasitic itch 127 

Xon-toxic enteritis 117 

Xose, hemorrhage from the. 108 
Xostrils 58 

Obesity 102 

Obscure origin, diseases of. 130 
Obstruction of the 

esophagus Ill 

Occipital 53 

Olfactory organs 62 

Omphalophlebitis 133 

Ovaries 60 

Oxford 35 



Palate 56 

Palatine bone 54 

Panaritium 152 

Panniculus 56 

Parasites, external 154 

Parasites, internal 166 

Paralysis 125 

Paralysis of the bladder . . . 122 

Parasitic diseases 153 

Parietals 53 

Parturient paresis 142 

Parturition, difficult 139 

Pasteur treatment 94 

Patella 55 

Pearly disease 95 

Pelvic limb 55 

Penis 60 

Pericardium 61 

Pericardium, dropsy of the. 106 

Pericarditis 106 

Periodicals consulted 228 

Peritoneum, diseases of the. 121 

Peritonitis 123 

Persian 52 

Pertoleum poisoning 185 

Phalanges 55 

Pharynx 58 

Phosphorus poisoning 181 

Piles 119 

Pingue 200 

Pining 100 

Piroplasmosis 97 

Pleurisv 110 

Pleurit'is 109. 110 

Pneumonia 109 

Poisons 177 

Poisons, alkali 183 

Poison ivy 205 

Poisons, mineral 178 

Poison oak, poisoning by. . .205 

Poison sego 190 

Poison, sumac 205 

Poisons, vegetable 185 

Poisoning, aconite 193 

Poisoning, acute arsenical . 180 

Poisoning, acute lead 178 

Poisoning, blood 98, 133 

Poisoning, carbolic acid... 183 
Poisoning, choke cherry... 195 
Poisoning, chronic 

arsenical 180 

Poisoning, chronic lead.... 179 
Poisoning, common salt.... 184 



INDEX 



235 



Poisoning, copper 181 

Poisoning, cotton seed 

meal 201 

Poisoning, croton oil 203 

Poisoning, deadly 

nightshade 198 

Poisoning, death camaa ... 190 

Poisoning, digitalis 202 

Poisoning, emergency 

treatment in 188 

Poisoning, ensilage 206 

Poisoning, epsom salt 184 

Poisoning, ergot 197 

Poisoning, flax 204 

Poisoning, Glauber's salt. ..184 

Poisoning, hemlock 203 

Poisoning, horse radish .... 204 

Poisoning, kafir corn 205 

Poisoning, larkspur 192 

Poisoning, laurel 196 

Poisoning, lime 185 

Poisoning, loco 191 

Poisoning, lupine 192 

Poisoning, mercurial 182 

Poisoning, mineral acid . . .183 

Poisoning, petroleum 185 

Poisoning, phosphorus .... 181 

Poisoning, poison oak 205 

Poisoning, porcupine grass. 207 
Poisoning, potato tops .... 205 

Poisoning, rape seed 203 

Poisonings, rare mineral ... 185 
Poisoning, rubber weed .... 200 

Poisoning, saltpeter 183 

Poisoning, sheep dip 184 

Poisoning, sneeze weed. ... 199 

Poisoning, sorghum 205 

Poisoning, strychnin 201 

Poisoning, toadstool 204 

Poisoning, tobacco 202 

Poisoning, turpentine 202 

Poisoning, uncommon plant . 208 

Poisoning, veratrum 196 

Poisoning water hemlock. . . 194 

Poisoning woody aster 198 

Poisoning, zinc 182 

Porcupine grass poisoning. 207 
Post mortem examinations. 82 
Potato tops, poisoning by . . 205 

Pox 89 

Prairie dog 218 

Predatory animals 210 

Premaxilla 54 



Prepuce 60 

Prostate 00 

Prunus demissa 195 

Pseudo-tuberculosis 95 

Psoroptes communis ovis. . .154 

Pterygoid bone 54 

Publications consulted .... 228 

Pulex avium 100 

Pulex irritans 106 

Pulex serraticeps 166 

Puncture of the bladder. . . . 150 
Pustular eruption of lambs. 137 

Pustule, malignant 84 

Putrescent milk 144 

Pyemia 98 

Pyometra 123 

Pyo-septicemia of suck- 
lings 133 

Quarantine regulations . . . .219 
Quarter ill . . 87 

Rabies 93 

Rachitis 102 

Radius 54 

Rain-rot 128 

Rambouillet 31 

Rams, diseases of 146 

Rape seed, poisoning by. .. .203 

Rash 128 

Rattle weed 191 

Red milk 144 

Red water 100 

Regulations, quarantine 

and transportation 219 

Regulations, state 227 

Removal of contents 

of rumen 150 

Renal calculi 105 

Renal inflammation 105 

Respiratory organs, 

diseases of the 108 

Respiratory system 58 

Restraint of ewe during 

parturition 139 

Retention of the meconium. 133 
Reviving "lifeless" 

lambs 71. 132 

Rheumatism 126 

Rhus diversiloba 205 

Ribs 53 

Rickets 102 

Rinderpest 88 

Ring-worm 129 



236 



INDEX 



Romney 51 

Rubber weed, poisoning- by . 200 
Rumen, impaction of the.. 114 

Rumenotomv 150 

Rupture . 132, 146 

Sacro-iliac joint 56 

St. Anthony's fire 154 

Salivary glands 58 

Salt peter poisoning 183 

Sanguineous ascites 100 

Sarcocystis tenella 175 

Sarcoptes scabei ovis 163 

Sarcosporidiosis 175 

Scab, common 154 

Scab, foot 163 

Scab, head 163 

Scabies affected sheep, 

movement of 221 

Scapula 54 

Scrotum 60 

Scurf 154 

Septicemia 98 

Septicemia gangraenosa ... 85 
Septicemia, hemorrhagic ... 88 
Septicemia hemorrhagic 

ovum 88 

Sheep-dip poisoning 184 

Sheep exposed in transit. . .222 

Sheep pox 89 

Sheep scab 154 

Shepherd's calendar 68 

Shipments from public 

stockyards 224 

Shipping sheep 67 

Shoulder joint 55 

Shropshire 31 

Skeleton 53 

Skin 61 

Sking drying 132 

Skin, non-parasitic 

diseases of the 127 

Skit 117 

Skull 53 

Smut 197 

Sneeze wood, poisoning by. 199 

Snots '.169 

Snufflles 108 

Solanum nigrum 198 

Solar eczema 128 

Sore mouth 137 

Sorghums, poisoning by. . . .205 

Southdown 32 

Special senses, organs of . . . 61 



Spermatic cord 60 

Sphenoid 53 

Spinal cord 61 

Spleen 58 

Splenic apoplexy 84 

Splenic fever 84 

Staggers 115 

State regulations 227 

Sterility 145 

Sternum 53 

Stifle joint 56 

Stipa 207 

'Stomach 58 

Stomach worms 171 

Stomatitis 111. 137 

Stretches 116 

Strongylus contortus 171 

Strongylus filaria 169 

Strvchnin poisoning 201 

Sturdy 167 

Sucklings, pvo-septicemia 

of ' 133 

Suffocation 132 

Suffolk 43 

Summer scab 128 

Sun stroke 124 

Surgical diseases 148 

Suturing 149 

Symbiotes scabei ovis 163 

Symptomatic anthrax 87 

Synovial sacs 56 

Taenia coenurus 167 

Tapeworms 174 

Tapeworm cysts 105 

Tarsus 55 

Taste, sense of 62 

Teeth 57 

Teeth, diseased 148 

Temporals 54 

Temporo-mandibular 

articulations 55 

Testicles 60 

Tetanus 92, 137 

Thoracic cavity 59 

Thoracic limb 54 

Thorax 53 

Thrush 137 

Thymus "59 

Thyroid 59 

Tibia 55 

Tibio-fibular joint 56 

Ticks 163 

Toadstools, poisoning by . . . 204 



INDEX 



237 



Tobacco dip 1G1 

Tobacco poisoning 202 

Tongue 57 

Tonsil 58 

Toxic enteritis 11!> 

Trachea 59 

Transportation regulations .219 

Trembles 130 

Trichocephalus 

spherocephalus 165 

Trismus 92 

"Trotting" diesase 130 

Tuberculosis 95 

Tunis 52 

Turbinals 54 

Turnsick 167 

Turpentine poisoning 202 

Twist 115 

Udder, inflammation of the. 143 
Ulceration, lip-and-leg .... 97 

Ulna 54 

Umbilical hemorrhage 132 

Uremia 104 

Ureter 59 

Urethra 60 

Urinary calculi 74, 146 

Urinary organs 59 

Urinary organs, diseases of 

the 104 

Urine, bloody 147 

Uterus 60 

Uterus, displacement of 

the 141 

Uterus, inflammation of 

the 142 

Vagina 60 

Valvular diseases of 

the heart 107 

Variola ovina 89 

Vas deferens 60 

Vegetable poisons 185 

Venous system 61 



Veratrum, poisoning by. . . . 196 
Veratrum viride or 

speciosum 1!>6 

Vermifuge for sheep dogs.. 168 

Verminous bronchitis 169 

Vertebrae 53 

Vesiculae seminales 60 

Vomer 54 

Water hemlock, poisoning 

by '. . .194 

Watery milk 144 

Weaning lambs 73 

Wethers, diseases of 146 

"White plague" 95 

White scours 135 

Wild bean 192 

Wild cat 215 

Wildfire 154 

Wild onion 1!>0 

Wild pea 192 

Wolf 216 

Wolfsbane 193 

Womb, inflammation of the. 142 

Wooden tongue 96 

Woody aster, poisoning by. 198 

Wool balls 115 

Wool, caliber of 61 

Wool eating 102 

Wool falling out 127 

Wool sorter's disease 84 

Wools, the fine 24 

Wools, the long 44 

Wools, the medium 31 

Worms, lung 169 

Worms, stomach 171 

Xylorhiza Parryi (Gray) ... 198 

Yellow milk 144 

Yellows 120 

Zinc poisoning 182 

Zygadenus venenosus 190 



